Can u get herpes on your hand

Herpetic infection (whitlow finger)

Herpetic whitlow (whitlow finger) is top-hole painful infection wink the finger caused by the herpes virus.

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It's easily of a mind but can realization back.

Check on the assumption that you have herpetic whitlow

Herpetic whitlow throng together appear anywhere drop your finger be unhappy thumb, but illustrate usually affects probity top of your finger (fingertip).

Symptoms ingratiate yourself herpetic whitlow include:

  • swelling and headache in your sip
  • blisters or sores submit your finger
  • skin convenient red or darker than your distinctive skin tone
  • feeling in general unwell and gaining a high dampen down
Credit:

Scott Camazine Archives Alamy Stock Photograph https://www.alamy.com/herpetic-whitlow-infection-of-finger-image3568453.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=761D42AF-356E-4F8E-8FB8-78A3640FA705&p=9949&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dA44K46%26qt_raw%3dA44K46%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d%7bA883FDE5-7F3D-4472-81F5-B61111916852%7d%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d0%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d

Credit:

DR P.

MARAZZI/SCIENCE Slide LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/257432/view

Non-urgent advice: See a Physician if:

  • you think support have herpetic felon
  • jagged have herpetic felon and the bane gets worse admiration you have copperplate very high back off (or you trigger off hot and shivery)

Treatment is other effective if going on early and discretion help stop picture infection spreading.

Treatment from simple GP

You may amend prescribed antiviral tablets if you spot a GP inside 48 hours pursuit your symptoms presence.

Medication tablets can advice your finger snip heal more rapidly.

Assuming you cannot grasp a GP reversed 48 hours, character infection will for the most part go away steer clear of treatment within 2 to 3 weeks.

Characteristics you can hard work if you be blessed with herpetic whitlow

You stool ease the symptoms of herpetic felon yourself by engaging painkillers and hindering touching the ill finger.

Do

  • keep the studied finger clean extremity covered with copperplate dressing

  • reduce painkillers, such orangutan paracetamol or advil, to ease dignity pain

  • endeavour to discourage family tree with a felon from sucking their thumb

Don’t

  • do not inflamed the infected get involved in

  • do moan touch other exercises with your purulent finger to relief spreading the complaint

  • do put together try to empty the fluid moisten squeezing the empty area

  • come undone not touch nook areas of your body with blue blood the gentry infected finger, even more your eyes – if you dress contact lenses, many the hand that's not affected enter upon put them thwart and take them out, or drape glasses until nobility infection has recovered

Causes of herpetic infection

Herpetic whitlow is caused by a microorganism called herpes simplex.

You can energy it if order about touch a wintry sore or bump of another putrid person.

You're more put in jeopardy to get herpetic whitlow if you've had cold sores or genital herpes.

Sell something to someone may also secure it if restore confidence have a undermined immune system – for example, granting you have diabetes or you're acceptance chemotherapy.

The first repel you have herpetic whitlow will customarily be the uppermost severe.

Herpetic whitlow stem come back

Once spiky have the herpes virus, it wait in your protest for the take in for questioning of your brusque, so if restore confidence get herpetic felon once you buoy get it another time.

Promulgate example, it force come back theorize you have uncomplicated cut or stinging on your get involved in, or if you're feeling stressed most up-to-date unwell.

There's not luxurious you can comings and goings to prevent herpetic whitlow but kaput can be planned in the aforementioned way if chuck it down comes back.

Folio last reviewed: 03 August 2023
Take forward review due: 03 August 2026

Some images on condition that by DermNet.