Symptoms and Signs of Finger Infection

Doctor's Notes on Finger Infection

A finger infection is an infection of the skin, soft tissue, or bone of the finger. The cause of the infection is typically a virus or bacteria, and a number of different organisms can cause a finger infection. Examples of medical conditions characterized by finger infection include herpetic whitlow, paronychia, felon, infectious flexor tenosynovitis, cellulitis, and deep space infection. Paronychia is a special type of infection that involves the nail. 

Symptoms of finger infection may include:

• pain,
• redness,
• swelling,
• abscess with drainage of pus,
• difficulty moving the finger,
• changes in the nails, and
• joint pain.

The specific symptoms depend on the specific organism that is present along with the type of infection.

What Is the Treatment for Finger Infection?

Treatment for finger infection depends on the cause and severity of the infection as well as the location of the infection. Treatment options may include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Surgical drainage of abscesses or certain types of infection
• Pain medications and medications to control fever, if necessary
• Proper wound hygiene
• Intravenous antibiotics in cases of serious infections or bone infections