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Paroníquia

Last reviewed: 10 Nov 2025
Last updated: 25 Jun 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presença de fatores de risco
  • dor, edema, drenagem (aguda)
  • dobra ungueal edemaciada e purulenta (aguda)
  • irregularidades da lâmina ungueal (crônica)
  • edema/vermelhidão das dobras ungueais (crônica)
  • dobras ungueais rosas e edemaciadas (crônica)
  • cutícula ausente (crônica)
  • anormalidades da lâmina ungueal subjacente (crônica)
Full details

Risk factors

  • lesão microscópica ou macroscópica das dobras ungueais (aguda)
  • riscos ocupacionais (agudos e crônicos)
  • dano de barreira às dobras ungueais, cutícula (crônico)
  • unha encravada
  • medicamentos (crônico)
  • crianças e adultos
  • mulheres
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • swab para coloração de Gram, cultura e sensibilidade (aguda ou aguda em crônica)
  • swab para esfregaço de Tzanck (aguda, herpética)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • hidróxido de potássio ou cultura fúngica (crônica)
  • radiografia
  • RNM
  • biópsia cutânea/óssea
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

paroníquia aguda

ONGOING

paroníquia crônica

retroníquia

Contributors

Authors

Shirin Zaheri, MBBS, BSc, MRCP

Dermatology Consultant

Charing Cross Hospital

Imperial College NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

SZ declares that she has no competing interests.

Khawar Hussain, BSc, MRCP, FHEA

Specialty Registrar in Dermatology

Charing Cross Hospital

Imperial College NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

KH has been reimbursed by Sanofi for conference travel expenses.

Acknowledgements

Dr Shirin Zaheri and Dr Khawar Hussain would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Catherine Hardman, Dr Nathaniel J. Jellinek, Professor C. Ralph Daniel III, and Dr Shaimaa Nassar, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

NJJ, CH, and SN declare that they have no competing interests. CRD is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers

Shehla Admani, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Stanford University School of Medicine

San Jose

CA

Disclosures

SA declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Daniel CR 3rd. Paronychia. Dermatol Clin. 1985 Jul;3(3):461-4. Abstract

Leggit JC. Acute and chronic paronychia. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jul 1;96(1):44-51.Full text  Abstract

Relhan V, Goel K, Bansal S, et al. Management of chronic paronychia. Indian J Dermatol. 2014 Jan;59(1):15-20.Full text  Abstract

Shafritz AB, Coppage JM. Acute and chronic paronychia of the hand. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2014 Mar;22(3):165-74. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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