Definition:
Onychomycosis means fungal infection of the nail. It is the very common disease of the nails and constitutes about
a half of all nail abnormalities. This condition can affect toe- or fingernails, but toenail infections are
particularly common. The prevalence of onychomycosis is about 6-8% in the adult population. Onychomycosis caused
by dermatophytes is also called as tinea unguium (tinea of the nails).
Diagnosis:
If all nails are affected then fungal infection is improbable. To avoid misdiagnosis as psoriasis, lichen planus,
contact dermatitis, trauma, nail bed tumor or yellow nail syndrome, laboratory confirmation would be necessary.
The three main practices are potassium hydroxide smear, culture and histology.
Treatment:
Treatment of onychomycosis is challenging because the infection is embedded within the nail and is difficult to
reach. As a result full removal of symptoms is so slow and may take a year or more.
Symptoms and Signs:
The nail plate may have a thickened, yellow, or cloudy appearance. The nails could become rough and crumbly, or
can separate from the nail bed. Usually there is no pain or other bodily symptoms, unless the disease is severe.
Causes:
The cause pathogens of onychomycosis include dermatophytes, Candida, and non-dermatophytic moulds. Dermatophytes
are the fungi commonly responsible for onychomycosis in the temperate western countries; While, Candida and
non-dermatophytic moulds are more frequently involved in the tropics and subtropics with a hot and humid climate.
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