Herpetic whitlow

Symptoms of herpetic whitlow include swelling, reddening, and tenderness of the infected part. This may be accompanied by fever and swollen lymph nodes. Small, clear vesicles initially form individually, then merge and become cloudy, unlike in bacterial whitlow when there is pus. Associated pain often seems largely relative to the physical symptoms. The herpes whitlow lesion usually heals in two to three weeks.{{cite journal |author= Anonymous|title=Herpetic whitlow: a medical risk |journal=Br Med J |volume=4 |issue=5785 |pages=444 |year=1971 |pmid=5125276 |doi= 10.1136/bmj.4.5785.444|pmc= 1799611}} It may reside in axillary sensory ganglia to cause recurrent herpetic lesions on that arm or digits. Blistering can occur in severe cases.

In children the primary source of infection is the orofacial area, and it is commonly inferred that the virus (in this case commonly HSV-1) is transferred by the cutting, chewing or sucking of fingernail or thumbnail.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

In adults, it is more common for the primary source to be the genital region, with a corresponding preponderance of HSV-2. It is also seen in adult health care workers such as dentists because of increased exposure to the herpes virus.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

Contact sports are also a potential source of infection with herpetic whitlows.{{cite journal | pmc = 3503926 | pmid=22546886 | doi=10.1503/cmaj.111741 | volume=184 | title=Herpetic whitlow | year=2012 | journal=CMAJ | pages=E924 | vauthors=Hoff NP, Gerber PA| issue=17 }}

Although it is a self-limited illness, oral or intravenous antiviral treatments, particularly acyclovir, have been used in the management of immunocompromised or severely infected patients. It is usually given when the condition fails to improve on its own.{{Cite news|url=https://www.livescience.com/51054-whitlow-finger-infection-herpes.html|title=Herpes Virus Gives Man a Blistery Finger Infection|work=Live Science|access-date=2018-06-03}} Topical acyclovir has not been shown to be effective in management of herpetic whitlow. Famciclovir has been demonstrated to effectively treat and prevent recurrent episodes.{{Cite journal|last1=Alster|first1=T. S.|last2=Nanni|first2=C. A.|date=March 1999|title=Famciclovir prophylaxis of herpes simplex virus reactivation after laser skin resurfacing|journal=Dermatologic Surgery|volume=25|issue=3|pages=242–246|issn=1076-0512|pmid=10193975|doi=10.1046/j.1524-4725.1999.08197.x}} Lancing or surgically debriding the lesion may make it worse by causing a superinfection or encephalitis.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-hand-infections?source=preview&anchor=H27991206&selectedTitle=2~12#H27991206|title = UpToDate}}

Even though the disease is self-limiting, as with many herpes infections, the virus lies dormant in the peripheral nervous system. The disease recurs in about 20–50% of people. The most severe infection is usually the first one, with recurrences subsequently getting milder. The lesions the disease makes will either dry out, or burst, followed by healing. If the infected area is not touched, scars usually do not occur. The immunocompromised may have a hard time recovering, and have more frequent recurrences.{{Cite news|url=https://www.health24.com/Medical/Diseases/Herpetic-whitlow-Client-20120721|title=Herpetic whitlow|work=Health24|access-date=2018-06-07|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141016/https://www.health24.com/Medical/Diseases/Herpetic-whitlow-Client-20120721|url-status=dead}}

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• Cold sore
• Genital herpes
• Herpes gladiatorum
• Herpes simplex
• List of cutaneous conditions

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• [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/788056-overview#showall Herpetic Whitlow] Medscape
• {{cite journal | pmid=2316323 | volume=58 | issue=1 | title=Herpetic whitlow: an occupational hazard. | date=Feb 1990 | journal=AANA J | pages=8–13 | url=https://www.aana.com/newsandjournal/Documents/herpetic_whitlow_0290_p008.pdf | access-date=2014-05-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605103844/https://www.aana.com/newsandjournal/Documents/herpetic_whitlow_0290_p008.pdf | archive-date=2016-06-05 | url-status=dead | last1=Klotz | first1=R. W. }}

{{Viral cutaneous conditions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herpetic Whitlow}}

Category:Herpes simplex virus–associated diseases

Category:Virus-related cutaneous conditions

Category:Viral diseases