What is a felon in medical terms?

Asked by: Izabella Stroman  |  Last update: February 2, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (67 votes)

A felon is an infection of the soft tissue (pulp) of the fingertip, usually caused by bacteria. A felon can lead to a pocket of pus (abscess) inside the fingertip, which creates pressure on and causes death of nearby tissues. The fingertip becomes very warm, swollen, and firm with intense throbbing pain. Felon.

What causes felon infection?

A felon is a fingertip abscess deep in the palm side of the finger. It usually is caused by bacterial infection, most often from growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. A painful bump on the end of a finger that is sometimes mistaken for a felon is a herpes virus infection that forms a herpetic whitlow.

What is a felon in the medical field?

A felon is an infection that occurs within the closed-space compartments of the fingertip pulp. Any injury to the fingertip may predispose to a felon, including minor cuts, foreign body penetrations, splinters, and paronychias. The most common bacteria associated with infection in a felon is Staphylococcus aureus.

What is the most common felon complication?

Osteomyelitis involving the diaphysis of distal phalanx is a common complication.

What is a felon also known as?

Definitions of felon. noun. someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime. synonyms: criminal, crook, malefactor, outlaw.

Infection of the finger. what is a felon finger. Diagnosis and treatment of a felon.

35 related questions found

What does being a felon mean?

Following conviction of a felony in a court of law, a person may be described as a felon or a convicted felon.

What causes pus in the finger?

Paronychia (pahr-uh-NIK-ee-uh) is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Most of the time, paronychia is not serious and can be treated at home.

What does a felon finger look like?

The felon finger initially looks like a red bump and can progress to an abscess filled with pus. Early treatment with antibiotics is effective at removing the infection. If a felon finger is suspected, it is important to receive medical advice early to avoid more invasive treatments or complications.

What is the most serious felony?

The most serious felonies, such as first-degree murder, are capital crimes where the defendant could receive life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

What are the most common diseases in prisons?

The spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), and tuberculosis, result largely from needle-sharing, drug use, and consensual and non-consensual sex among prisoners.

Do hospitals hire people with felonies?

People who work in healthcare often have direct access to patients. This means that certain criminal convictions will be disqualifying. Some of the common types of convictions that could result in a denial for a position include convictions for drug abuse, theft, elder or patient abuse, sexual offenses, and others.

Is being a felon permanent?

In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison. You can face serious obstacles until you get the conviction removed from your criminal history.

What benefits can felons get?

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Benefits

An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits if they have worked or paid into Social Security enough years.

What is a felon in medical field?

Felon finger is a bacterial infection in the pad of your fingertip. It causes pain, swelling and redness. If not treated immediately, a pus-filled sac (abscess) can form. Early-stage felon finger infections can usually be treated with antibiotics. Once an abscess forms, the felon usually needs surgically drained.

What does a septic finger look like?

The swelling usually develops over several days and is located in the pad area of the fingertip. The area will have a throbbing pain and be painful to the touch. The area is usually red, and a visible collection of pus may be seen under the skin.

What is the most common cause of pus?

Pus always happens because of an immune response. The most common reason for this kind of response is a bacterial infection.

What is the lowest level felony?

In contrast, a Class E Felony is the least serious felony because it carries between 1-5 years in jail. Similarly, misdemeanor crimes are also classified by a letter grade. Class A misdemeanors are the most serious. They carry up to one year in jail.

What is higher than a felony?

Obviously legally there are no crimes worse than a felony, just various types of felonies.

How to drain an abscess at home?

You may be able to get rid of an abscess by applying a warm compress to the area. It may drain naturally, but you shouldn't attempt to drain or burst an abscess at home. If you try to squeeze the pus out of an abscess yourself, it can easily spread the bacteria to other areas of your skin.

How can you tell if someone is a felon?

Simply enter a name to search. Consult the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator. A search by name will determine if the individual in question has been an inmate of a federal prison at any time since 1982. You will know the person is a felon, though the site will not report the nature of the person's crime.

Should I soak my infected finger in salt water?

Try home treatment if you think you have an infection in the skin around your nail. Soak your foot or hand 2 to 3 times each day. Use a solution of 5 mL (1 tsp) of salt dissolved in 1 L (4 cups) warm water. After soaking, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a bandage.

What color pus is bad?

Q: What colour pus is bad? A: Pus is a protein-rich fluid known as liquor puris, which is accumulated at the site of infection. While whitish-yellow pus is normal, pus with the colour yellow, green or brown along with a foul smell can be a sign of infection.

Can a felon finger go away on its own?

Because an enlarging abscess in the finger reduces blood supply into the area, it is hard for your body's immune system to fight this type of infection. Felons almost always need to be opened and drained by a doctor before they can heal. Most clear up within days to weeks.

Can dirty fingers cause a yeast infection?

However, some sexual activities, such as penile, toy, or finger insertion, can introduce bacteria to the vagina. The new bacteria can potentially trigger the growth of the Candida fungus, causing a yeast infection to develop.