Fungal infections of the nail plate are about half of all nail diseases and are quite common in modern society.
In most cases, onychomycosis affects nail plates on the legs, so that the disease is not immediately noticed, but in the stage of pronounced symptoms.It is an infectious disease that can manifest itself not only with a cosmetic defect, but also by a violation of the immune system, and even the digestive tract.The nail fungus cannot be underestimated, its treatment should be appropriate under the control of an experienced doctor.
Causes of fungal infection
The cause of the nail plate infection is generally three types of fungi: dermatophytes, mushrooms and mussels similar to yeast.Most often in a moderate climate, onychomycosis is caused by fungal microorganisms of Trichophyton Rubrum (red trichophyte) - is 70% of mushroom and trichophyton Mentagrophytes (Trichophyton de l'Inten) - 20% of diagnosis.
You can be infected with onychomycosis in such common places such as a swimming pool, a sauna, a bath, when you wear socks from other people and even during a pedicure session.
In addition, some people are predisposed to this disease due to various diseases.Among these pathologies, immunosuppressive states are distinguished associated with HIV infection or chronic treatment by immunosuppressants after the transplantation of the organs, or with certain autoimmune diseases.
Despite the fact that untreated onychomycosis is an infectious disease, most patients do not recognize their changes in the pathological nail, they generally turn for medical aid in advanced cases.And, by the way, ignoring the disease can cause loss of nail infection and spreading the neighboring skin.
How the disease manifests itself
Most often, the infection develops on the first and / or the fifth finger of the foot (if the changes affect all nails, it is generally a symptom of another disease, for example, psoriasis).At the beginning, the changes affect the edge of the nail, it changes the natural color to yellowish brown.After the nail plate, it becomes fragile and brittle, over time, it changes its shape and thickens.
The most characteristic symptoms of fungal nail infection include:
- Change in the color of the nail in yellow, brown, white or black;
- thickening of the nail plate and development of its increased fragility;
- deformation of the plate and its separation of the nail bed;
- An unpleasant odor emanating from an infected nail;
- The formation of an inflammatory process around the nail.
In the late stage of the disease, the pain pronounced in the nail can develop and even difficulties in walking.
Nail fungi prevention and treatment
Onychomycosis must be treated as soon as possible, because the infection tends to extend to other nails.In addition, the disease at the late stage leads to the destruction of the whole nail plate, which should later be removed.
Before prescribing a treatment, the doctor will certainly prescribe a laboratory analysis, which will determine the type of fungus, the degree of damage and will choose the most effective treatment.The analysis includes the capture of the affected nail plate material and its research under the microscope.
How does the treatment of onychomycosis take place?The method and duration of the treatment of infection depend on many factors, including the severity of nail lesions, the type of pathogen and related pathologies.
The treatment of fungal nails infection generally starts with the use of local drugs in the form of varnishes, lotions or creams that face the disease at the early stages.If changes affect more than one plate occur for a long time, local drugs are supplemented by antifungal agents for oral administration.The doctor may prescribe drugs based on itraconazole or fluconazole.
In the event that onychomycosis is persistent, it is not subject to drug treatment or constantly recurrent, the doctor recommends removing the infected nail plate, thus eliminating the source of the infection.
Please note that onychomycosis is an infectious disease subject to frequent relapses, so you must adhere to important preventive rules:
- Do not walk barefoot in the pool, gymnasiums;
- Perform pedicures in salons with disinfection of high quality equipment;
- Monitor the cleanliness of the shoes;
- Wash your feet regularly;
- Answer early symptoms, for example, a color change of the nail plate.
Attention!The source of infection of fungal infection is shoes, so it is recommended to launch it or disinfect it with special means that the doctor will speak.