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Boils, carbuncles, folliculitis, paronychia and staphylococcal whitlow - Management
How should I manage acute paronychia without fluctuance?
- Advise the person to use warm soaks three to four times a day.
- Treat empirically with oral antibiotics.
- Offer analgesia (paracetamol or ibuprofen) if needed.
Basis for recommendation
- These recommendations are pragmatic advice, based on the most likely causative organism (Staphylococcus aureus) and expert opinion from the medical literature [Clark, 2003; Lee et al, 2007].
- The aim of using warm soaks is to relieve discomfort, localise the infection, and promote drainage.
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