Paronychia, Chronic

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Click here to access the Primary-Healthcare-Chapter-5-Skin-Conditions-with-Supporting-NEMLC-Report-2020-4-Review-Version-2.0-November-2025

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Description

General Measures

Medicine Treatment

Referral

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ICD 10 code: L03.0

DESCRIPTION

• Chronic, red, swollen nailfold, lifted off the nail plate with whitish pus
• Commonly caused by working in water and contact with household detergents

GENERAL MEASURES

• Avoid hand contact with household detergents, washing powders and fabric softeners
• Wear rubber gloves when washing clothes, linen and kitchen utensils to keep hands clean and dry as far as possible

MEDICINE TREATMENT

• Corticosteroid, potent, topical, eg: (Doctor prescribed)
• Betamethasone 0.1% topical, apply at night until lesions have cleared
  • Wash hands, then massage cream into the nailfold

If secondary infection is present, indicated by pain and tenderness in the nailfold, treat with antibiotics. See: Impetigo

LoE: IIIb¹³

REFERRAL

• No response to treatment.

Click here to access the pdf.

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Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Primary Healthcare, 2020-2024_Version 1.0_07 November 2024

Chapter 5: Skin Conditions_5.6.2 Paronychia, Chronic