Suppurative paronychia, a painful nail infection characterized by pus formation, requires prompt treatment through disinfection, antibiotics, drainage, physical therapy, or surgical intervention. Common causes include bacterial infections, improper nail trimming, trauma, weakened immunity, or fungal involvement.
Proven Treatment Methods
1. Proper Wound Care and Disinfection
Regular soaking with povidone-iodine or saline solution (3-5 times daily for 10 minutes) helps cleanse the affected area. After soaking, apply antibacterial ointments like mupirocin while keeping the wound dry. Avoid alcohol-based solutions which may irritate the wound and spread infection. Gentle handling during cleaning prevents pus dissemination.
2. Targeted Antibiotic Therapy
Moderate to severe infections require oral antibiotics such as cefaclor or amoxicillin-clavulanate for 5-7 days. Culture-guided antibiotic selection ensures effectiveness against specific pathogens. For mixed fungal infections, combination therapy with itraconazole may be necessary. Completing the full course prevents antibiotic resistance.
3. Professional Drainage Procedures
Established abscesses require medical drainage using sterile techniques. Healthcare providers may use needles for superficial pus or perform longitudinal incisions for deeper collections. Post-drainage care involves daily dressing changes until exudation stops, with potential use of drainage strips. Self-draining attempts risk infection spread.
4. Adjunctive Physical Therapies
Ultra-short wave therapy (once daily for 15 minutes) reduces inflammation, while infrared therapy improves local circulation to accelerate pus elimination. Elevating the affected limb decreases swelling. Therapists maintain water temperatures below 40°C to prevent thermal injury during treatment.
5. Surgical Intervention Options
Recurrent or severe cases may need partial or complete nail removal with excision of surrounding granulation tissue. Postoperative care includes keeping the nail dry for two weeks. Patients with ingrown nails require simultaneous nail margin reconstruction to
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