Dactylitis

/ˌdæktɪˈlaɪtɪs/ noun

Definition

Medical inflammation of a finger or toe, often causing swelling and pain in the digit and surrounding tissue.

Etymology

From Greek daktylos (finger) + -itis (inflammation). This medical term emerged in the 18th-19th centuries as doctors systematized the naming of inflammatory conditions.

Kelly Says

Dactylitis is sometimes called 'sausage digit' because the swelling makes your finger puff up so much it looks exactly like a sausage—it's a tell-tale sign of certain arthritis conditions.

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