Not to be confused with whitlow. A paronychia (/ËpÃ¦rÉËnÉªkiÉ/; Greek: ÏÎ±ÏÏÎ½ÏÏÎ¯Î± from para, around and onukh-, nail) is a nail disease that is an often-tender bacterial or fungal infection of the hand or foot where the nail and skin meet at the side or the base of a finger or toenail. The infection can start suddenly (acute paronychia) or gradually (chronic paronychia).