Whitlow (Noun)
Meaning
A purulent infection at the end of a finger or toe in the area surrounding the nail.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The doctor diagnosed the painful swelling on my finger as a whitlow and prescribed antibiotics to clear up the infection.
- After years of biting her nails, Sarah finally developed a whitlow on her index finger that required medical attention.
- The emergency room doctor quickly drained the whitlow on the patient's toe to relieve the pressure and pain.
- The fungal infection on my toe had developed into a whitlow, which was tender to the touch and filled with pus.
- If left untreated, a whitlow can lead to serious complications, such as abscesses or sepsis, so it's essential to seek medical help promptly.