What Is Herpetic Whitlow?

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

Article Sources

Medical Expert

More About Us

We are always using our fingers to pick things up, and they are always coming into touch with different surfaces. This makes it inevitable that we will pick up the occasional scratch or cut, and they are even prone to the occasional insect bite. These can all result in some discomfort, but they will not usually be too serious.

The different surfaces that our fingers touch are also likely to be coated with pathogens, thus making them prone to developing infections. This is especially the case if the skin of our fingers is broken in some way. There are numerous infections we can pick up on our fingers, one of which is herpetic whitlow.

1. Herpetic Whitlow?

Herpetic whitlow is a type of viral infection. In most cases, it will only be the fingers that are affected, and it can result in blisters and sores developing in the infected area. The condition causes a wound, which is known as a whitlow, to appear on the fingers. It can appear in people of all ages and also in people from all walks of life.

As the name suggests, the infection is caused by the herpes virus, particularly those that cause oral herpes (HSV-1), and genital herpes (HSV-2). The virus is common and highly contagious, and there are a number of ways that people can contract herpetic whitlow.