Differential includes dactylitis
Painful fingers may also be suggestive of dactylitis.
Blistering distal dactylitis, mostly caused by group A β-hemolytic streptococci, is a bacterial infection that manifests as a tense bullae over the anterior fat pad of the volar aspect of the distal part of a single finger (or rarely a toe); diagnosis is usually confirmed by culture.5
Sickle cell dactylitis, or hand-foot syndrome, is caused by localized bone marrow infarction of the carpal and tarsal bones and phalanges. Patients will complain of a sudden onset of warm, tender global swelling of the hands and/or feet that is occasionally accompanied by fever and leucocytosis.5
Spondyloarthritis dactylitis, or a “sausage-like” digit, is usually caused by flexor tenosynovitis and presents as diffuse painful swelling of the fingers and toes, mainly over the flexor tendons.5