Purulent infection through a perionychial fold causing an abscess of the bulbous distal end of a finger. SYN: felon. [M.E. whitflawe]
- herpetic w. painful herpes simplex virus infection of a finger from direct inoculation of the unprotected perionychial fold, often accompanied by lymphangitis and regional adenopathy, lasting up to several weeks; most common in physicians, dentists, and nurses as a result of exposure to the virus in a patient's mouth.
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whit·low 'hwit-(.)lō, 'wit- n a deep usu. suppurative inflammation of the finger or toe esp. near the end or around the nail called also felon compare PARONYCHIA
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n.
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whit·low (hwitґlo) a painful abscess on the palmar aspect of a fingertip, occurring as the result of infection in the closed space of the terminal phalanx; it often follows inoculation into the skin of a pathogenic microorganism. Called also pulp abscess and felon.Medical dictionary. 2011.