User:Mr. Ibrahem/Onychomycosis
Medical condition / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a type of fungal infection of the nail.[4][5] Symptoms may include white or yellow nail discoloration, thickening of the nail, and separation of the nail from the nail bed.[2][3] Toenails or fingernails may be affected, but it is more common for toenails to be affected.[3] Complications may include cellulitis of the lower leg.[3]
Onychomycosis | |
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Other names | Dermatophytic onychomycosis[1] tinea unguium[1] |
A toenail affected by onychomycosis | |
Specialty | Infectious disease |
Symptoms | White or yellow nail discoloration, thickening of the nail[2][3] |
Complications | Lower leg cellulitis[3] |
Usual onset | Older males[2][3] |
Causes | Fungi: T. rubrum, E. floccosum, Microsporum, Trichophyton[4] |
Risk factors | Athlete's foot, other nail diseases, exposure to someone with the condition, peripheral vascular disease, poor immune function[3] |
Diagnostic method | Based on appearance, confirmed by laboratory testing[2] |
Differential diagnosis | Psoriasis, chronic dermatitis, chronic paronychia, nail trauma[2] |
Treatment | None, anti-fungal medication, trimming the nails[2][3] |
Medication | Terbinafine, ciclopirox[2] |
Prognosis | Often recurs[2] |
Frequency | ~10% of adults[2] |
A number of different types of fungus can cause onychomycosis including dermatophytes and Fusarium.[3] Risk factors include athlete's foot, other nail diseases, exposure to someone with the condition, peripheral vascular disease, and poor immune function.[3] The diagnosis is generally suspected based on the appearance and confirmed by laboratory testing.[2] It is a type of dermatophytosis.[5]
Onychomycosis does not necessarily require treatment.[3] The antifungal medication, terbinafine, taken by mouth appears to be the most effective but is associated with liver problems.[6][7] Trimming the affected nails when on treatment also appears useful.[2] There is a ciclopirox-containing nail polish, but it does not work as well, being recommended only when less than 40% of the nail is involved.[2][8] The condition returns in up to half of cases following treatment.[2] Not using old shoes after treatment may decrease the risk of recurrence.[3]
It occurs in about 10 percent of the adult population.[2] Older people are more frequently affected.[2] Males are affected more often than females.[3] Onychomycosis represents about half of nail disease.[2] It was first determined to be the result of a fungal infection in 1853 by Georg Meissner.[9]