What would you call an inflamed infection surrounding the nail?

The term for an inflamed infection surrounding the nail is "Paronychia." This condition typically occurs when bacteria or fungi invade the area around the fingernail or toenail, often resulting from trauma to the nail fold, such as tearing the skin, or from excessive moisture exposure. Symptoms of paronychia include redness, swelling, and pain in the area surrounding the nail, and it can be categorized into acute or chronic forms based on the duration and severity of the symptoms.

Onychia, while relevant to nail health, specifically refers to the inflammation of the nail matrix and is not characterized by the inflammation surrounding the nail. A hangnail is a small, torn piece of skin adjacent to the nail, often caused by dryness or trauma, which does not involve the infection aspect. Fungal infections typically refer to infections caused by fungi that can affect the nail itself or the surrounding skin, but they do not specifically describe the inflamed infection around the nail like paronychia does. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in nail and skin care practices.