Swollen lymph nodes in the elbow or underarm area.Red streaks radiating from the finger (lymphangitis).Other symptoms occasionally associated with the primary infection of herpetic whitlow include: The blisters usually rupture and scab over, leading to complete healing after an additional 2 weeks. Small (1–3 mm) fluid-filled blisters develop, often clustered together on a bright red base. Over the next week or 2, the finger becomes red and swollen. The most common locations for herpetic whitlow include:Īpproximately 2–20 days after initial exposure to the herpes simplex virus, the infected area develops burning, tingling, and pain. In everyone else, herpetic whitlow is usually caused by infection with HSV-2. In these groups of people-children and health care workers-herpetic whitlow is most commonly caused by HSV-1. Dental and medical workers may contract herpetic whitlow by touching the contagious lesions of a patient with herpes simplex virus infection. Children often contract herpetic whitlow as a result of thumb- or finger-sucking when they have a herpes infection of the lips or mouth. However, it is more common in children and in dental and medical workers. Herpetic whitlow can affect people of all ages, of all races, and of both sexes. HSV-1 causes approximately 60% of herpetic whitlow infections, while HSV-2 causes the remaining 40%. Usually, there is a break in the skin, especially a torn cuticle at the base of the fingernail, which allows the virus to enter the finger tissue and establish an infection. People develop herpetic whitlow when they come into contact with areas already infected with HSV, either on their own bodies or on someone else's body. Recurrent infections tend to be milder than primary infections and generally occur in the same location as the primary infection. These recurrent herpes simplex virus infections may develop frequently (every few weeks), or they may never develop. Nevertheless, the virus remains in the body, hibernating in nerve cells.Ĭertain triggers can cause the hibernating (latent) virus to wake up, become active, and travel back to the skin. These sores heal completely, rarely leaving a scar. Appearing 2–20 days after a person's first exposure to HSV, the sores of a primary infection last about 1–3 weeks. However, only about 20% of people who have a primary infection with the herpes simplex virus actually develop visible blisters or sores. Because it is so contagious, the herpes simplex virus causes a primary infection in most people who are exposed to the virus. However, HSV-1 can sometimes cause infections in the genitals or buttocks, while HSV-2 can occasionally cause infections around the mouth, lips, nose, or face.īoth types of HSV produce 2 kinds of infections: primary and recurrent. HSV-1 infections usually occur around the mouth, lips, nose, or face, while HSV-2 infections usually involve the genitals or buttocks. There are 2 types of HSV: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Furthermore, these tender sores may recur periodically in the same sites. HSV infection usually appears as small blisters or sores around the mouth, nose, genitals, and buttocks, though infections can develop almost anywhere on the skin.
#What is the skin between your thumb and index finger called skin#
Infections with HSV are very contagious and are easily spread by direct contact with infected skin lesions. Herpetic whitlow is caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It will probably not be reattached, but it will give your doctor more information about your injury.Herpetic whitlow-also called digital herpes simplex, finger herpes, or hand herpes-is a painful viral infection occurring on the fingers or around the fingernails. If you are able to recover the piece of skin that was cut off, take it with you. (6.5 mm), evaluation by a doctor is usually needed. If this avulsion injury is larger than 0.25 in. The larger the wound, the longer it will take to heal, and the greater the risk of infection.Ĭutting off the tip of a finger or toe are common avulsion injuries.
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This type of wound will form new skin only on the edges of the wound and heals from the edges into the middle. When a cut or scrape removes all of the layers of skin (a full-thickness avulsion injury), fat and muscle may be visible. As long as some of the layers of skin are still in place, new skin will form in the bottom of the wound and along the wound edges. Cuts may slice off several layers of skin.