King Charles’ “hands sausage” has become a hot topic among royal fans ever since he ascended the throne after the late Queen Elizabeth II passed away. It’s understandable to feel concerned though, as he is the oldest king to acquire the throne in British history.
The Reason Behind King Charles Fingers Condition
But what exactly is the medical condition behind King Charles’ fingers, and should he be worried? Well, a doctor tried to give an informative answer,
Shedding light on this, Dr. Chun Tang, Medical Director at Pall Mall Medical in Manchester, UK, shared insights into what may be behind the 74-year-old monarch's swollen fingers and even introduced the technical term for the condition.
Dr. Tang explained that there can be various reasons for having "sausage fingers." Swollen fingers are often indicative of water retention, a symptom linked to various health conditions.
This swelling can be attributed to inflammation and may result from issues like arthritis, multiple bacterial infections, or even tuberculosis. Other factors contributing to puffy fingers include high salt levels, allergic reactions, side effects of medications, injuries, and autoimmune diseases.
The medical term for "sausage fingers" is dactylitis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dactylitis differs from most types of inflammation as it affects the entire length of a finger or toe. This swelling can occur in a single digit, multiple digits, or even the entire hand or foot.
Dactylitis can manifest with various symptoms, including pain, warmth, discoloration, and difficulty moving or bending the affected finger or toe.
Dactylitis is linked to psoriatic arthritis, affecting 16-49% of individuals with this condition. While arthritis is the primary cause, dactylitis can also be a result of non-arthritic autoimmune diseases such as sickle cell disease, lupus, or sarcoidosis. Infections, including Lyme disease, syphilis, and tuberculosis, can lead to swollen fingers.
The treatment for sausage fingers depends on their underlying cause. Arthritis and autoimmune diseases may require lifelong management involving medications, physical therapy, or cortisone shots.
In contrast, dactylitis caused by infection typically warrants antibiotic treatment. Chronic dactylitis associated with arthritis or autoimmune diseases can potentially be managed at home with over-the-counter medications, cold water soaking, or the application of an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for 15 minutes multiple times per day.
"Sausage fingers" became a trending topic online, particularly in relation to King Charles, who ascended to the throne in September last year. Photos of the king frequently hid his hands, prompting online speculation and humor, with "sausage fingers" even ranking as the seventh most searched term on Google at one point.
Royal fans playfully noted the absence of the king's hands in official portraits, joking that Charles might have been "bullied" into concealing his fingers in photos.
But King Charles Is Far From The Only One In His Family To Suffer Weird Health Conditions
Lady Louise Windsor’s Eye Condition
Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward, has faced some health issues related to her sight. Born prematurely, she experienced strabismus, a condition where both eyes cannot align simultaneously.
Strabismus is relatively common in premature babies since their eyes are among the last aspects of their development to be finalized.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, openly discussed her daughter's condition, noting that Louise had a significant squint as a baby. The correction of this condition takes time, ensuring that one eye doesn't become more dominant than the other. Fortunately, Louise's squint was corrected, and her eyesight is now perfect.
Sophie is actively involved in efforts related to sight and blindness prevention. She serves as the patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and is a global ambassador for Vision 2020.
The Countess has emphasized the incredible reward of witnessing sight being restored and individuals transitioning from darkness to light. In 2014, Louise underwent surgery to correct her eyes, a significant step in addressing her sight issues.
Princess Diana’s Multiple Health Condition
Princess Diana, the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, faced a significant health challenge during her younger years: she struggled with bulimia. Her former royal chef, Darren McGrady, has spoken about her eating disorder, revealing that he suspected that "something wasn't right" at the time.
Darren explained that he never discussed the specific food he prepared for Princess Diana or the peculiar requests she made because he felt it wouldn't be right to do so.
However, he did acknowledge that her eating habits raised questions. He mentioned that he wasn't a psychologist or a doctor, so he couldn't address the issue directly.
Princess Diana later overcame her eating disorder, and Darren noted that she was leading a healthier life. She had confronted her bulimia, openly discussed it, and hoped to inspire others to do the same.
Her efforts to overcome the disorder were visible as she committed to a daily gym routine and adopted a healthier approach to eating.
In 1992, Princess Diana initially revealed her struggle with bulimia in Andrew Morton's book "Diana: Her True Story." She later discussed her disorder in a 1995 interview with Panorama.
Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have expressed pride in their mother for openly sharing her story, emphasizing the importance of treating mental health issues as seriously as physical health.
Queen Elizabeth II's Discolored Hands In Her Last Photos
Queen Elizabeth II's right hand has garnered attention due to its purple color during her meeting with Liz Truss before she passed away. Medical experts suggest that the skin discoloration might be attributed to a condition known as senile purpura, now more commonly referred to as solar purpura.
This condition is more prevalent as individuals age, and it primarily affects the forearms and back of hands, areas often exposed to the sun but lacking adequate UV protection over the years.
Solar purpura is characterized by increased fragility of the skin and the underlying connective tissues, making it susceptible to bruising from minor bumps or even the insertion of an IV needle during medical procedures.
It's a reminder that as people age, their skin becomes more delicate, and even minor impacts or medical interventions can lead to this type of skin discoloration. While this condition can be alarming in appearance, it's generally not a cause for serious concern.
Final Words
If you are worried about King Charles sausage fingers, you can rest assured that his condition is nothing sort of too serious, as it is mostly related to age. Other royal family members also suffered many weird conditions throughout the years, but what always made them admirable was that they always pd out how to put up with them and continue to serve the public.