Infantile multiple ingrowing nails of the fingers induced by the grasp reflex - A new entity

Background. A new clinical entity of ingrowing fingernail of infants, which was associated with the grasp reflex, was found. Objective: To define this new disease. Methods: We encountered 26 cases of this disease between 1984 and 1996. We describe the clinical features of this new disease. Results: The median age of the cases was 1 month (from 6 days to 4 months). The main findings were multiple and bilateral paronychia of the fingernails. This disease was observed in some babies only when they had the grasp reflex. Conclusions: The repeated compression of the nail due to the grasp reflex caused the soft tissue swelling at the end of the nail to be penetrated by the edge of the nail plate. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.