A herpetic whitlow is a whitlow of the finger or thumb caused by the herpes simplex virus. This is a painful infection that usually affects the fingers or thumbs. Sometimes infection occurs in the toes or on the nail cuticle. Herpes whitlow can be caused by infection by HSV-1 or HSV-2. HSV-1 whitlow is often contracted by health workers who come into contact with the virus; this is most often contracted by dental workers and medical workers affected by oral secretions. It is also frequently observed in thumb-sucking children with primary HSV-1 oral (autoinoculation) infection prior to seroconversion, and in adults aged 20 to 30 after contact with genitalia infected with HSV-2. Symptoms of whitlow herpes include swelling, redness and tenderness of the skin of an infected finger. This may be accompanied by fever and swollen lymph nodes. Small and clear vesicles initially formed separately, then merged and became turbid. The associated pain often appears relatively large against physical symptoms. Herpes whitlow lesions usually heal in two to three weeks. It may lie in the axillary sensory ganglia to cause recurrent herpetic lesions on the arm or digits.
Video Herpetic whitlow
Cause
In children the primary source of infection is the orofacial area, and it is usually concluded that the virus (in this case usually HSV-1) is transferred by cutting, chewing or sucking of fingernails or thumbnails.
In adults, it is more common for the primary source to become a genital area, with appropriate proportions of HSV-2. It is also seen in adult health care workers such as dentists due to increased exposure to herpes viruses.
Sport contact is also a potential source of infection with herpetic whitlows.
Maps Herpetic whitlow
Treatment
Although it is a self-limited disease, oral or intravenous antiviral therapy, especially acyclovir, has been used in the management of patients with impaired immune or highly infected systems. Topical acyclovir has not been shown to be effective in herpetic whitlow management. Famciclovir has been shown to effectively treat and prevent recurrent episodes. Lancing or surgical surgery of the lesions may worsen by causing superinfection or encephalitis.
See also
- Herpes simplex
- List of skin conditions
References
External links
- Herpetic Whitlow Medscape
- "Herpetic whitlow: occupational hazard" (PDF) . AANA J . 58 (1): 8-13. Feb 1990. PMID 2316323. Ã,
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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