Whitlow
What Is Whitlow?A whitlow is a painful and highly contagious infection on the fingers caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is also known as herpetic whitlow. It is a self-limited disease.
A herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger is an abscess of the end of the finger caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (the "cold sore virus"). It usually affects the fleshy area of the fingertip.
Whitlow is an abscess in the soft tissue near a fingernail or toenail.
A whitlow can occur when broken skin on your finger comes in direct contact with body fluids infected with the herpes simplex virus. These body fluids may come from you or someone else.
Types of Whitlow
There are two types of herpes simplex Virus
Type 1
Type 2—and both can cause herpetic whitlow
There are two types of herpes simplex Virus
Type 1
Type 2—and both can cause herpetic whitlow
- Herpetic whitlow
- Melanotic Whitlow
Causes of Whitlow
- Bacterial fingertip infection
- Herpes simplex virus fingertip infection
- The two types of Whitlow can cause a herpetic whitlow. These viruses can also cause cold sores and genital herpes.
What are the risk factors for whitlow?
A number of factors increase the risk of developing whitlow. These include:
A number of factors increase the risk of developing whitlow. These include:
- Herpes simplex virus 1 or 2 infection
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Injury to the finger with broken skin surface
- Nail-biting habit
- Self-inoculation with unwashed fingers (among children)
Symptoms/Signs of Whitlow
These are some of the signs you will notice:
These are some of the signs you will notice:
- A painful swell below the finger nails
- A painful couple of blisters that are filled with fluid
- A redness around the finger(it can be quite severe in some cases)
- Burning sensation on fingers
- Itchy feeling
- Swollen and extremely painful
- Uncontrollable or even extreme
- Tingling or other unusual sensations in the hands
How to diagnose Whitlow
The doctor will take your symptoms and medical history — including an HSV diagnosis — into consideration to diagnose whitlow. The doctor may also take a tube of your blood to order a complete blood count (CBC) with a differential (a count of your white blood cells). This will let them see if you have enough immune cells to fight infections, or if you have an underlying immune dysfunction that causes reoccurring infections.
The doctor may want to test for herpes if you haven't been diagnosed with it. They may analyze your blood for herpes antibodies, order a PCR test (for the detection of herpes DNA), and/or order a viral culture (to see if actual herpes virus is growing from your blood).
How to Prevent Whitlow
One of the best ways to prevent herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger infection is to
The doctor will take your symptoms and medical history — including an HSV diagnosis — into consideration to diagnose whitlow. The doctor may also take a tube of your blood to order a complete blood count (CBC) with a differential (a count of your white blood cells). This will let them see if you have enough immune cells to fight infections, or if you have an underlying immune dysfunction that causes reoccurring infections.
The doctor may want to test for herpes if you haven't been diagnosed with it. They may analyze your blood for herpes antibodies, order a PCR test (for the detection of herpes DNA), and/or order a viral culture (to see if actual herpes virus is growing from your blood).
How to Prevent Whitlow
One of the best ways to prevent herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger infection is to
- Avoid popping the blisters
- Take what will boost your Immune system to fight against herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger.
- Hand gloves can be used for preventing herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger while doing regular daily activities.
- Personal towels along with hygienic items should not be shared with anyone that has whitlow
- Stay away from infected people and from virus contact. In condition of infection
- Use of ibuprofen as well as acetaminophen is preferred. These painkillers give quick relief from fever or soreness.
- To deal with the condition of swelling or discomfort
- To restrict further spread of herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger
- Use ice packs or effective cooling compressors.
- Use of bandage to cover affected finger with herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger
Treatment for Whitlow
Proper medication can make you recover fast from herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger.
Dipping the finger in salt water gives mild relief and aching pain is subsided soon.
Keeping the hand in little elevated position reduces the pain easily.
Proper cleaning and bandage are essential in case of pus collection
Your physician may prescribe antiviral medications in order to help relieve symptoms and to prevent spread of the infection to other people:
Proper medication can make you recover fast from herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger.
Dipping the finger in salt water gives mild relief and aching pain is subsided soon.
Keeping the hand in little elevated position reduces the pain easily.
Proper cleaning and bandage are essential in case of pus collection
Your physician may prescribe antiviral medications in order to help relieve symptoms and to prevent spread of the infection to other people:
- Acyclovir pills
- Valacyclovir pills
- Famciclovir pills
- Topical acyclovir ointment
These medications are usually taken for 7–14 days.
Use antibiotic treatment only in cases complicated by bacterial superinfection
Surgical treatments for whitlow are painful and long term. To prevent any surgical treatment, soak a cotton pad/wool pad in iodine tincture onto which a swaddle is applied for the entire day.
Use antibiotic treatment only in cases complicated by bacterial superinfection
Surgical treatments for whitlow are painful and long term. To prevent any surgical treatment, soak a cotton pad/wool pad in iodine tincture onto which a swaddle is applied for the entire day.
Whitlow Home Remedies/Home Cure
(1.) Ingredient: Lemon
Take a lemon and make a hole into it
How to use it
Now insert the affected finger into this hole for about 10 minutes and it should be done twice daily for quick healing
(2.) Ingredient: Magnesium Sulphate
How to use it
Take a suitable antiseptic and clean the infected area, get a tube of magnesium sulphate from the chemist and apply a generous amount on the affected area and cover with cotton wool or lint. Apply a bandage over the covering and it should be changed and repeated over a period of time
If the symptoms still persist, you can consult a medical practitioner as there can be need of antibiotics
Rice flour and linseed oil: Make a poultice from rice flour and linseed oil Apply this poultice to the affected area for quick relief
(1.) Ingredient: Lemon
Take a lemon and make a hole into it
How to use it
Now insert the affected finger into this hole for about 10 minutes and it should be done twice daily for quick healing
(2.) Ingredient: Magnesium Sulphate
How to use it
Take a suitable antiseptic and clean the infected area, get a tube of magnesium sulphate from the chemist and apply a generous amount on the affected area and cover with cotton wool or lint. Apply a bandage over the covering and it should be changed and repeated over a period of time
If the symptoms still persist, you can consult a medical practitioner as there can be need of antibiotics
Rice flour and linseed oil: Make a poultice from rice flour and linseed oil Apply this poultice to the affected area for quick relief
(4.) Ingredient: Rice flour and linseed oil
How to do it
Make a poultice from rice flour and linseed oil
Apply this poultice to the affected area for quick relief
How to do it
Make a poultice from rice flour and linseed oil
Apply this poultice to the affected area for quick relief
(5.) Ingredient: Sulphate
How to use it
Take a suitable antiseptic and clean the infected area
Get a tube of magnesium sulphate from the chemist and apply a generous amount on the affected area and cover with cotton wool or lint. Apply a bandage over the covering and it should be changed and repeated over a period of time
If the symptoms still persist, you can consult a medical practitioner as there can be need of antibiotics
(6.) A bandage should be used for covering any infected area in.
Towels and items of personal care should not be shared with others.
Complications of Whitlow
How to use it
Take a suitable antiseptic and clean the infected area
Get a tube of magnesium sulphate from the chemist and apply a generous amount on the affected area and cover with cotton wool or lint. Apply a bandage over the covering and it should be changed and repeated over a period of time
If the symptoms still persist, you can consult a medical practitioner as there can be need of antibiotics
(6.) A bandage should be used for covering any infected area in.
Towels and items of personal care should not be shared with others.
Complications of Whitlow
- It will only cause the augmented super-infections, which is a rare category of infection, and potential advancement of herpes encephalitis.
- Marks or scars at infected parts are the complications of herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger.
- People having previous experiences of more than one herpetic whitlow or whitlow finger infections and recovered, use to complain about decrease sensation or keen perception to pain over affected body part.
- There is an increased chance of spreading HSV infection to other parts such as finger and eyes, if patient do not take care by preventing infected body parts, getting in contact with other body parts.
- Wrongful diagnosis of herpes encephalitis followed by profound surgical incision, leads to adverse outcomes.
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