All cuticles are gone

[bill17210]

After a bout of pneumonia including weeks of IV antibiotics in the hospital I came home to more IV antibiotics via home health care. I was also taking anti-fungals having developed thrush from probably formoterol fumarate inhalers. I am also dealing with ringworm.  Nothing grew from the cultures taken from blood, sputum, or a specimen from endoscopy.
The pneumonia abated and while at home I felt remarkably better. Then my girlfriend noticed my hair was falling out at an alarming rate. While looking at the hair in my hand I noticed my fingernails had no cuticles! Feet are also affected. The skin between my nails and my knuckles on the back is peeling back from the nails.
What could be the problem here. No cuticles for a month is a little nerve racking. My doc (GP) and several nurses are baffled as am I.
TIA

[bill17210]

Thank You!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For loss of cuticles from the nails, fungal infection and bacterial infections of the nails which may cause paronychia should be ruled out. Paronychia results from a breakdown of the protective barrier between the nail and the nail fold. It is diagnosed by gram staining and KOH wet mounts from the skin and nail scrapings. So I suggest you to get the gram staining and KOH wet mounts done from a dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.