What is the meaning of onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails that causes discoloration, thickening, and separation from the nail bed.
What is a onychomycosis caused by?
Onychomycosis is caused by 3 main classes of fungi: dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. Dermatophytes are by far the most common cause of onychomycosis. Two major pathogens are responsible for approximately 90% of all onychomycosis cases.
What are the different types of onychomycosis?
Four types of onychomycosis, characterized according to clinical presentation and the route of invasion, are recognized.
- Distal Subungual Onychomycosis.
- Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis.
- White Superficial Onychomycosis.
- Candida Infections of the Nail.
- Total Dystrophic Onychomycosis.
What is paronychia onychomycosis?
Paronychia and onychomycosis: Paronychia and onychomycosis are frequently associated with immersion of the hands in water and with diabetes mellitus. The patient has a history of a painful and erythematous area around and underneath the nail and nail bed.
How is onychomycosis prevented?
Prevention
- Keep your hands and feet clean and dry.
- Clip your fingernails and toenails short and keep them clean.
- Don’t walk barefoot in areas like locker rooms or public showers.
- Don’t share nail clippers with other people.
Where does onychomycosis start?
Most types of onychomycosis have the same signs of infection: the infected nail usually becomes thick and discoloured. This process generally starts at the tip of the nail and progresses downwards towards the root. As the infection progresses, the affected nail can become itchy and/or slightly painful.
What is the most common type of onychomycosis?
Distal subungual onychomycosis (DSO), the most common type, involves the nail bed and, subsequently, the nail plate. White superficial onychomycosis (WSO) usually manifests as superficial white patches with distinct edges on the surface of the nail plate.
What is nail fungus called?
Infections are more common in toenails than fingernails. The technical name for a fungal nail infection is “onychomycosis.”
Can you get rid of onychomycosis?
Treatment of onychomycosis includes chemical or surgical removal of the infected nail, systemic or topical drugs, pulse therapy, or a combination thereof.