Chronic Paronychia in Children

Abstract

Thumb-sucking is the most frequent predisposing factor of chronic paronychia in children.

There are two basic components in chronic paronychia. One is a pocket which holds moisture and allows the sur vival of many different organisms. The other is an anatomic deformity of round ing out and retraction of the posterior nail fold because of foreign material in the dermis. The dermal change with the subsequent rounding out and retraction assures the continuing presence of the pocket.

Chronic monilial disease usually local izes at sites of pre-existing defects. Mo nilia contribute to the disease process by irritation on the surface and by penetra tion of debris into the dermis. This debris stimulates chronic inflammation which in turn often aggravates the original defect.