Differential Diagnosis for Painful and Swollen Fingers
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Osteoarthritis: This is a common condition characterized by wear and tear of the joints, leading to pain and swelling, especially in the fingers. It's more prevalent in older adults and can be exacerbated by repetitive use or injury.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and pain in the joints, often affecting the fingers symmetrically. It can lead to significant disability if not treated.
- Gout: A form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe but can also affect the fingers.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: A condition that combines the swollen, scaly skin of psoriasis with joint pain and arthritis, often affecting the fingers.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Septic Arthritis: A serious infection within a joint that can cause pain, swelling, and redness. If not promptly treated with antibiotics, it can lead to joint destruction and significant morbidity.
- Cellulitis or Abscess: Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues that can cause pain, swelling, and redness. While not typically confined to the joints, they can involve the fingers and require urgent antibiotic treatment.
- Raynaud's Phenomenon: A condition that affects blood flow to the fingers and toes, and sometimes the ears, nose, and lips, causing them to turn blue or white in response to cold or stress. It can be painful and is associated with several autoimmune diseases.
Rare Diagnoses
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues. It can lead to hypermobile joints and skin hyperextensibility, among other symptoms.
- Scleroderma: A chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen, leading to hardened, tight skin, and possible involvement of internal organs. It can cause pain and swelling in the fingers.
- Sarcoidosis: A disease in which granulomas (abnormal masses of inflamed tissue) can form in various parts of the body, including the skin, lungs, and eyes. It can rarely cause swelling and pain in the fingers.