noun
- plural of whitlow; painful infections around the fingernail or toenail, typically caused by bacteria or viruses
Usage: medical
Examples
- The doctor treated several whitlows in patients who had been biting their nails.
- Whitlows can be very painful and may require antibiotic treatment.
- She developed whitlows on two fingers after getting manicures at an unsanitary salon.
- The nurse explained that whitlows are common infections around the nail bed.
- Proper hand hygiene can help prevent whitlows from developing.
- His whitlows became so severe that he needed to see a specialist.