Often asked: Whats A Whitlow?

Whitlow is a very painful and infectious viral disease of the thumb and fingertips. Rarely, it infects the toes and nail cuticle. It is a self-limiting disease and it is of two types – Herpetic Whitlow and Melanotic Whitlow.

How do you get a whitlow?

Herpetic whitlow is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. You can get it if you touch a cold sore or blister of another infected person. You’re more likely to get herpetic whitlow if you’ve had cold sores or genital herpes.

What causes nail whitlow?

Herpetic whitlow, or whitlow finger, is a painful infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are different strains of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), including HSV-1, the main cause of cold sores, and HSV-2, the main cause of genital herpes. Both of these strains can cause herpetic whitlow.

How do you cure a whitlow?

You can treat herpetic whitlow at home by:

1. taking a pain reliever — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — to help reduce pain and fever.
2. applying a cold compress several times a day to help reduce swelling.
3. cleaning the affected area daily and covering it with gauze.

What does the start of a whitlow look like?

Approximately 2–20 days after initial exposure to the herpes simplex virus, the infected area develops burning, tingling, and pain. Over the next week or 2, the finger becomes red and swollen. Small (1–3 mm) fluid-filled blisters develop, often clustered together on a bright red base.

Is Whitlow finger contagious?

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.

What is the best thing to soak an infected finger in?

A simple infection of the finger can be treated by soaking it in: A mixture of pre-boiled warm water with antibacterial soap for 15 minutes, two to four times a day. Water with Epsom salt to soothe the area and provide pain relief. Apple cider vinegar because it has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

How serious is a whitlow?

Whitlow is a very painful and infectious viral disease of the thumb and fingertips. Rarely, it infects the toes and nail cuticle. It is a self-limiting disease and it is of two types – Herpetic Whitlow and Melanotic Whitlow.

How long does whitlow last?

While these vesicles are present, herpetic whitlow is extremely contagious. About 2 weeks after vesicles first appear, a crust forms over them. This signals the end of viral shedding. If untreated, the infection usually resolves in 3 to 4 weeks.

Can you get cold sores on your hands?

In some people, the virus that causes cold sores can cause problems in other areas of the body, including: Fingertips. Both HSV -1 and HSV -2 can be spread to the fingers. This type of infection is often referred to as herpes whitlow.

Can you lose a finger from infection?

Injury or infection to a finger or fingers is a common problem. Infection can range from mild to potentially serious. Often, these infections start out small and are relatively easy to treat. Failure to properly treat these infections can result in permanent disability or loss of the finger.

Can I spread HSV-1 to myself?

Can you autoinoculate yourself and spread HSV-1 it to your genitals? Unfortunately, the answer to this one is yes. People tend to think of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) as the “cold sore” virus and HSV-2 as the “genital herpes” virus.