Herpetic patereccio is an infection that affects the fingers and is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), a virus that affects approximately 90% of the world's population. It is important to take treatments as soon as you notice the infection or if your doctor finds that it is getting worse. The first phase is usually the most annoying, while relapses are usually less painful and last less. Given that on average 20 to 50% of cases present relapses, it is essential to act to prevent them.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Diagnosing the Herpetic Patereccio
Step 1. Try to remember if you have come into contact with someone with herpes
The herpes simplex virus is widespread and highly contagious. Type 1 (HSV-1) usually affects the face and can cause cold sores (painful blisters on the lips). Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) mostly causes blisters in the genital area.
- HSV-1 is spread through kissing or oral sex, while HSV-2 is spread through direct contact with infected genitals.
- Keep in mind that HSV can have a very long latent phase. You may have contracted herpes many years ago, but the virus has remained dormant in the nerve cells where it stabilizes. Stress and a drop in immune defenses (due to a disease) are typical triggers that can activate the virus and "wake it up".
Step 2. Check for early symptoms
In the "prodromal" or early stage of the disease, symptoms indicate the onset of the disorder. For the herpetic patereccio these usually occur 2 to 20 days after the initial exposure to the virus and include:
- Fever
- Sense of exhaustion
- Unusual pain
- Numbness
- Tingling in the affected area
Step 3. Observe the most typical symptoms of the herpetic patereccio during the active phase of the disease
Once the prodromal phase is over, you will notice much more specific symptoms, which clearly indicate that it is this infection:
- Swelling, redness and rash with fluid leaking from the blisters around the affected area.
- The blisters may rupture and drain white, clear fluid, or even blood.
- They may also merge with each other or turn black / brown.
- Subsequently, ulcers or skin lesions can form.
- It usually takes 10 days to 3 weeks for symptoms to resolve.
Step 4. Have a dermatologist diagnose the infection
Since the herpetic patereccio is more than a mere clinical diagnosis, the clinic's nursing staff or general practitioner may be limited to observing the physical signs and not foresee further analysis. However, your dermatologist may want to know your symptoms and your medical history (including a diagnosis of HSV) in order to make an accurate diagnosis. He may also decide to take a blood sample and have it analyzed for a complete blood count (CBC) with a differential leukocyte (white blood cell) count. In this way it will be possible to detect if you have enough immune cells to fight the infection or if you suffer from a dysfunction of the immune system that causes you to recurrent infections.
Your doctor may decide to have a specific test for herpes if you have never been diagnosed. They may want to test your blood for specific antibodies, order a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect viral DNA, and / or recommend a viral culture (to see if the herpes virus actually proliferates. in the blood)
Part 2 of 3: Initial Treatments
Step 1. Take antiviral medications
If you are diagnosed with herpetic patereccio within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, your doctor may prescribe this type of medication. These are medicines that can be taken topically (as an ointment) or orally (tablets) and are able to reduce the severity of the infection and stimulate faster healing. Therefore it is extremely important to contact a dermatologist as soon as possible.
- The drugs that are most often prescribed for this disorder are topical 5% acyclovir, oral acyclovir, oral famciclovir, or valaciclovir.
- Take your medications as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
- For children it is necessary to adjust the dosage, but the treatment does not change.
Step 2. Take precautions to prevent the infection from spreading
Since the virus can be transmitted through skin contact, your doctor will advise you not to touch other people and to avoid touching other parts of your own body with infected fingers. In particular, you must avoid touching those areas that produce body fluids or secretions, such as the eyes, mouth, tongue, genitals, ears and breasts.
If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them again until the infection is completely eradicated. Since you have to touch them with your fingers to insert contact lenses, you risk infecting your eyes
Step 3. Band up the infected areas
Your doctor may consider covering the affected fingers with a bandage, garment, or any other type of dry bandage and then blocking them with medical tape. This is an operation that you can easily do at home too, by buying a bandage or bandage at the pharmacy. Make sure you always keep it clean and change it every day. For added safety, your doctor may also recommend that you bandage your fingers and wear gloves at the same time.
Step 4. Monitor the children carefully
For you, as an adult, it is quite difficult to pay attention to your hands, but for children it is a real challenge. You must prevent your child from putting infected fingers in his mouth, touching his eyes or other areas that produce body fluids. Even after bandaging his affected fingers, check him carefully to make sure he is not spreading the virus.
Step 5. Take pain relievers if needed
Your doctor may prescribe or recommend over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. These medicines are supposed to soothe the pain as the infection heals and should also reduce inflammation in the affected area. If you visit your doctor within 48 hours of symptoms onset, he or she may also recommend painkillers only.
- Children and adolescents with a viral infection should not take aspirin, as there is a risk that they will develop serious, even fatal diseases, such as Reye's syndrome.
- If you have a viral infection, seek the advice of an experienced doctor before taking an over-the-counter pain reliever medication.
- Take your medications by carefully following the instructions on the leaflet or by following your doctor's instructions. Be careful not to exceed the maximum daily dose indicated.
Step 6. Ask your doctor to get tested for a bacterial infection
If you're trying to pop or drain blisters on your fingers yourself, you risk developing a bacterial infection due to the dust, debris, and bacteria that can enter the body through open lesions. Herpetic patereccio is a viral infection, but you can make it worse by causing a bacterial infection (the area can appear dark, smell bad, and develop a whitish pus discharge).
- If your doctor suspects there may be a bacterial infection, they may order a complete blood count with differential white blood cell count (to detect immune cells or white blood cells).
- If you have a bacterial infection, your white blood cell level is high.
- Your doctor may recommend that you perform the test a second time after finishing a full course of antibiotics, to make sure your white blood cell level has returned to normal. This additional test is not necessary if symptoms have reduced and there is no risk of worsening.
Step 7. Take antibiotics as prescribed
Your doctor will want to make sure it is indeed a bacterial infection before recommending antibiotic treatment. This is because overuse of these drugs can make some bacteria resistant to treatment. However, if the infection is indeed confirmed, antibiotic treatment is very simple indeed.
- Always follow your doctor's instructions or the directions on the drug package for dosage.
- Make sure you complete the full course of therapy, even if you notice a reduction in symptoms soon.
Part 3 of 3: Home Remedies
Step 1. Don't tease your blisters
You may be tempted to squeeze or tease blisters, as many people can't resist the urge to squeeze pimples. However, be aware that this way the wound would be exposed to bacterial infection. Also, the leaked fluid that contains the virus could spread the infection further.
Step 2. Soak the infected area
Hot water can soothe the pain caused by the herpetic patereccio. This remedy is most effective when painful lesions begin to form on the affected area. You can also add salt or Epsom salts to the water for some relief. The concentrated salt reduces swelling in the affected area.
- Fill a container with enough warm water to soak your affected fingers and soak them for about 15 minutes.
- Repeat if the pain returns.
- When finished, wrap the area with a dry bandage to avoid the risk of spreading the virus.
Step 3. Add soap to the water if the blisters are open
If you've been trying to pop or drain them, you need to add regular soap or antibacterial soap to the hot water you use to soak your fingers. You may be tempted to use the antibacterial, but be aware that several studies have shown that regular hand cleanser are just as effective at protecting you from germs and infections. The dissolved soap prevents the spread of the disease as the fluid from the blisters is released into the water.
Step 4. Apply a magnesium sulfate slurry
This element can help relieve pain and swelling caused by the infection. Although it is a widely documented remedy, the reasons for its effectiveness are still unknown. In a study published in 2008, a group of HSV-1 or 2 patients were treated with a mixture that contained magnesium sulfate. The results showed that more than 95% of patients saw their symptoms regress within 7 days.
- To use a magnesium sulfate slurry correctly, first cleanse the infected area with an effective antiseptic (isopropyl alcohol, soap, or alcohol wipes).
- Apply a generous amount of paste that is widely available in pharmacies.
- Cover the area with gauze or cotton wool and then bandage it.
- Change the bandage daily by applying fresh paste.
Step 5. Use the ice pack
The cold numbs the nerve endings and the area underneath, giving you some relief. It also slows the flow of blood to the fingers thereby reducing the inflammation or swelling that increases pain. You can buy a cold pack at the drugstore or wrap ice cubes in a cloth. Place it on your infected fingers.
Step 6. Reduce Stress
While it's not easy, you should make an effort to avoid future outbreaks of herpetic fly. The virus can lie dormant for a long time in nerve cells, but stress can activate it. For this reason, you should reduce or completely avoid situations that create tension to prevent a new outbreak. Remember that a few simple actions are enough to manage stress and improve your health, such as eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.
Advice
- Herpetic patereccio can also affect the toes.
- Try to reduce your stress levels to prevent activation of the dormant virus that would trigger herpetic patereccio relapses. Remember that a few simple steps are enough to manage stress and improve your health, such as following a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.
- Stay away from or at least avoid touching people who have active viral lesions. Usually, in these individuals, you may notice blisters near the mouth and on the genitals.
- Always use clean towels and change your bedding regularly, especially if you have a rash in your genitals or mouth. The HSV-2 virus is estimated to be able to survive 7 days outside the human body.
- Stop putting your hands in your mouth, learn not to suck your thumb and not to bite your nails.
- When you suffer from a herpetic rash in your mouth or genitals, wash your hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom or after touching your face or genitals.
- When you cut your nails, you are careful not to injure the living dermis or skin.
- During an HSV outbreak, cover any small skin lesions with a bandage to prevent the virus from spreading.
Warnings
- Never squeeze the blisters, it will cause more pain and could spread the infected material to other people.
- If you do not strictly adhere to the indicated treatment, you risk causing permanent damage or loss of the finger.
