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Definition:
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Clubbing is changes in the areas under and around the toenails and fingernails, and in the nails themselves that may occur with some disorders.
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Alternative Names:
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Clubbing
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Considerations:
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Common symptoms of clubbing:
- The nail beds soften. The nails may seem to "float" instead of being firmly attached.
- The angle that the nail makes with its cuticle increases.
- The last part of the finger may seem large or bulging. It may also be warm and red.
- The nail curves downward, similar to the shape of the round part of an upside-down spoon.
Clubbing can develop quickly, often within weeks. It also can go away quickly when its cause is treated.
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Common Causes:
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Lung cancer is the most common cause of clubbing. Clubbing often occurs in heart and lung diseases that reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood, such as:
Other causes of clubbing:
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Call your health care provider if:
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If you notice clubbing, call your health care provider.
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What to expect at your health care provider's office:
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A person with clubbing usually has symptoms of another condition. Diagnosing that condition is based on:
- Family history
- Medical history
- Physical exam that looks at the lungs and chest
Medical history questions may include:
- Do you have any breathing difficulty?
- Does clubbing affect the fingers, toes, or both?
- Is it becoming more noticeable?
- Is the skin ever bluish-colored?
- What other symptoms do you have?
- When did you first notice this?
The following tests may be done:
There is no treatment for the clubbing itself. The cause of clubbing can be treated, however.
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References:
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Murray JF, Schraufnagel DE. History and physical examinations. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 17.
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