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| Updated: 11/12/2012 8:52 am |
Published: 11/12/2012 8:51 am |
Each Sunday we survey doctors at St. Vincent health clinics to find out "What's Going Around" so you'll know what to be on the lookout for. Doctors say they are seeing something called paronychia.
It is a viral or bacterial infection causing inflammation of the area of the finger or toe around the nail. It looks like a sort of infection where the nail has pus, is red and is swollen and painful.
Paronychia is often the result of constant or repeated exposure to moisture. People who work as food handlers or in healthcare are at risk.
You need to see a doctor if you have signs of bacterial nail infection that include blisters in the infected area.
Doctors at St. Vincent are also seeing a lot of conjunctivitis -- better known as pink eye.
Pink eye is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the eyelid.
You'll notice redness, pain, grittiness & itchiness of the eyes; there may also be crustiness that can form overnight sealing upper and lower lashes together
It is contagious!!! So be careful who you come into contact with and wash your hands regularly.
Doctors can prescribe antibiotic eye drops to fix this but if the symptoms persist after trying this for a few days you'll want to go see a doctor.
Lastly, doctors are warning that atopic dermatitis is going around.
This is a hypersensitivity of the skin which leads to long-term swelling and redness of the skin.
It is most common in infants from two to six months or people with family history of asthma, hay fever or eczema.
Symptoms include skin changes such as dry, scaly skin, redness, blisters that ooze and scab and a rash
You can try treating it at home with moisturizer and antihistamines but if those don't work you need to call a doctor.
