What to do when the tip of the finger is swollen and has pus?

Swollen and pus-filled fingertips can cause pain to the patient and pose a risk of infection. So what is the symptom of this disease? What to do when the tip of the finger is both swollen and has pus?

Swollen and pus-filled fingertips are commonly known as the phenomenon of "nine-sided". This is a condition in which the tip of the finger is infected, leading to inflammation, pus or abscess. Inflammation and pus make the patient feel pain. If not treated properly, the disease can cause dangerous complications such as arthritis, osteomyelitis, sepsis, etc.

What is the disease when the tip of the finger is swollen and has pus?

Swollen and pus-filled fingertips are called "nine-sided". Nine-sided can occur in both fingertips and toes. This is one of the very common skin diseases. The signs are swollen fingertips, pus or abscesses. If not kept clean, whitlow will develop severely and have the risk of complications.

Whitlow usually develops through the following stages:

In the first 3 days after the injury, the fingertip is redder and more swollen than usual. The first feeling may be itchy fingertips, followed by uncomfortable pain. The swollen fingertip will be hot and hard.

From day 4 to day 7, the infection can spread around the finger. The pain increases. The patient's fingertip will feel tense, sore, and may twitch with each pulse. At this stage, the infection can cause the patient to have a mild fever.

In the following days, the fingertip begins to show white pus, the pain increases, especially when lightly pressing on the swollen area. At this time, if not treated promptly, the whitlow finger can become severely infected and spread to the joints or blood. Common complications are osteomyelitis, arthritis, bursitis or blood infection.

Causes of swollen and pus-filled fingertips

The main culprits causing swollen and pus-filled fingertips or whitlow are staphylococcus aureus and herpes bacteria. Through scratches on the skin or through the fingernails, these bacteria enter and cause disease. If the patient works in an unsanitary environment and sweats a lot, the bacteria will have more favorable conditions to develop.

Some factors that can increase the risk of whitlow include:

Cutting nails too close to the wrist, making it easy for bacteria to enter, causing swelling and pus.

Using unclean and unhygienic nail clippers.

When cleaning and sanitizing toilets or places with a lot of dirt, trash and bacteria, do not use work gloves.

Wounds on the fingertips that are not properly disinfected and treated are also susceptible to bacteria causing pus.

People who are overweight, obese or have immunodeficiency diseases are more susceptible to pus than others.

What should you do when your fingertips are swollen and have pus?

When you have a swollen and pus-filled fingertip, to prevent the infection from getting worse and spreading, you need to do the following immediately:

Assess whether the infection is serious. If the area of ​​swelling and pus is small, you can use a new and clean medical needle to create a hole to drain the pus out. If the pus is not completely removed, the infection will recur and the large swelling and pus-filled finger will reappear the next day.

After cleaning the pus, you should soak the injured finger in potassium permanganate diluted with water. Then, clean the finger and apply antibiotic ointments to pus such as Foban, Fucidin or Bactroban to kill the infectious agent.

Leaving the finger exposed instead of covering it will help the finger recover faster.

How to treat swollen and pus-filled fingertips at home

Some people who apply home remedies for swollen and pus-filled fingers also find it effective. If the swelling and pus-filled fingertips are not serious and have just started, you can apply the following methods:

Treat swollen and pus-filled fingertips by soaking in vinegar water: You can use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar, mixed with water in a ratio of 1 vinegar: 3 water to soak your fingers. Soak for about 30 minutes. Soak 2-3 times a day. Vinegar is slightly acidic, so it also has the effect of disinfecting wounds and killing bacteria that cause mild infections.

Soaking your fingers with Epsom salt or inorganic salt Magnesium sulfate is also effective in treating mild canker sores. Use 2 tablespoons of salt mixed with 1 liter of warm water, then soak your hands for about 30 minutes. If you repeat this several times a day, your fingers will improve after just a few days.

If after a few days of applying the above methods, the swelling and inflammation do not decrease, you must use a medical needle to drain the pus as instructed. After a few days, you should maintain the habit of soaking your hands in antiseptic or salt water to reduce the risk of recurrence.

When should you see a doctor if your fingertips are swollen and have pus?

Most cases of swollen and pus-filled fingertips can be treated at home. However, if you notice a serious infection, the patient has a lot of pain and a fever, see a doctor as soon as possible.

At a medical facility, the doctor may order an X-ray or test to assess the severity of the infection.