title: Herpetic whitlow and heratitis.
abstract: Two patients had herpes simplex infection of the fingertips (herpetic whitlow) associated with herpetic keratitis. Both patients were health-care professionals who probably acquired their disease from patients. Herpetic whitlow can be distinguished from a paronychia by the lack of a tense pulp space, formation of vesicles, and serous (rather than purulent) drainage. The fingertip inflammation resolves spontaneously, leaving normal healthy skin, in about two weeks.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology; D006281:Health Occupations; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification