While there is every possibility that your daughter has been bitten by an insect, it is also vey likely that she is suffering from a case of paronychia. Rarely heard of, the occurrence of this condition is quite common and is characterized by skin bacteria around any kind of damaged nail. Some of the most common causes of damage include finger sucking, nail biting, dishwashing, or even chemical irritants. While the infection develops, it starts to manifest more prominently near the nail bed and a few small abscesses may appear to form. In most cases, the sufferer will experience significantly intense pain while the actual bursting of the abscess could take a considerable period of time. The healing process may be further extended for up to a few months if there is a presence of fungal infection. Some noticeable symptoms of the presence of the condition include the nail plate becoming distorted and ridged while it continues to grow. More severe cases of the condition will also cause the nail to turn yellow or green in color. Paronychia can be classified into acute or chronic types as well. In the acute version of the condition, it will develop in the space of a few hours when a nail folds and can be significantly painful with the presence of some amount of yellowish pus under the cuticle. In the chronic version of the condition, the development of the condition is relatively gradual and much harder to treat. The condition may also give rise to the presence of painful glands under the arms as well as a rise in the body temperature.
While occasional paronychial infections are impossible to prevent, following a few rules of hygiene will help minimize their occurrences. First and foremost, if a habit such as your daughter biting her nails or cuticles is the core reason for the onset of the condition, you would need to get her to stop as soon as possible. Mixing some tea tree oil with olive oil and submerging the affected nail or finger into the solution for a significant period of time should prove quite helpful. You could also try mixing a few drops of oregano oil with a teaspoon of olive oil and apply the mixture over he affected area everyday for a period of three weeks. Oregano oil is highly recommended largely because of its all rounded analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti viral properties.