Paronychia

There are no definitive criteria for mild and severe acute paronychia, and judgment of severity is based on the physician's clinical assessment. In general, mild acute paronychia is usually less painful and has less periungual tissue involved, with no local extension or systemic signs of infection. Severe acute paronychia will usually present with significant pain and involvement of an extended area of periungual tissue and/or local extension, and will usually have a fluctuant pus collection. Systemic signs of infection may be present.