paronychia

noun

par·​o·​nych·​ia ˌper-ə-ˈni-kē-ə 

ˌpa-rə-

medical

: inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the nail of a finger or toe usually accompanied by infection and pus formation

… chronic paronychia may be related to factors causing a localized inflammatory reaction. These factors may be frequent contact with chemicals, chronic dishwashing, finger sucking as well as the effects of certain medications.

—J. Keith Festa

Paronychia, a painful infection, can creep under the skin around your nails when the cuticle breaks down, so slather cream around fingertips, too.

—Holly E. Thomas and Michelle Thomas

Examples of paronychia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For those of you unaware, paronychia is the medical term for a cuticle infection, which can be caused by trauma (as in, your cuticle cutters), irritation, and exposure to bacteria. —Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024

Bacterial paronychia often causes redness, swelling and pain around the skin fold of the nail, sometimes with puslike drainage, says Olabola Awosika, a dermatologist with Pinnacle Dermatology in Detroit. —Marlene Cimons, Washington Post, 28 July 2024

The potential resulting infection, known as paronychia, also can occur in fingernails after a manicure, according to experts. —Marlene Cimons, Washington Post, 28 July 2024

Bacterial infections are potential causes of paronychia, which causes severe redness, swelling, or pus to leak from your nail.5 Fungal Infection Symptoms The fungus from a fungal infection in your toenail can live in the dead tissue of your nail. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin parōnychia "whitlow," going back to Latin parōnychium (usually in plural parōnychia) "whitlow," borrowed from Greek parōnychía, from par- para- entry 1 + onych-, ónyx "nail" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at nail entry 1

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

paronychia

noun

par·​o·​nych·​ia ˌpar-ə-ˈnik-ē-ə 

: inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the nail of a finger or toe usually accompanied by infection and pus formation compare felon, whitlow sense 1