Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis, also known as ringworm of the nail, is a fungal infection that primarily influences either the fingernails or the toenails (though toenails are more susceptible). Such an affliction may correlate on any part of the nail, visible or not, including the nail bed, nail plate, and nail matrix, which is located behind the cuticle, and beneath the skin. Onychomycosis is far from life-threatening, being among the most common nail diseases that afflict adults. Nevertheless, it’s a fungal infection, and is therefore highly contagious. In her study of onychomycosis, dermatologist Boni Elewski commented, “…onychomycosis is all too often regarded as merely a cosmetic problem of relatively minor importance that is hardly worth the effort to resolve.” This is a severe understatement.
Because this is such a familiar fungal infection, it’s often misdiagnosed as nail psoriasis, lichen planus, contact dermatitis, a nail bed tumor, or yellow nail syndrome. To properly diagnose onychomycosis, a laboratory study is necessary—microscopic examination and culture of nail scrapings/clippings is the typical process. This would most likely be followed up by several more of the same test, as reliability on the correct diagnosis usually requires several samples. It’s a process to diagnose onychomycosis, but there are, however, quite a few general symptoms that the afflicted patient should be aware of.
At the early stages of onychomycosis, symptoms can generally be characterized by a discoloration of the nails, including a yellow or white patch. Soon after (assuming treatment is not applied) the nail will begin to obtain a thickened, yellow, cloudy appearance. As the symptoms crest, fingernails and/or toenails can and will begin to crumble, sometimes ultimately breaking away from the digit’s nail bed. Occasionally, as a result of an untreated fungal infection, dermatophytids will form. Dermatophytids are fungus-free lesions that most commonly present
Onychomycosis, also known as ringworm of the nail, is a fungal infection that primarily influences either the fingernails or the toenails (though toenails are more susceptible). Such an affliction may correlate on any part of the nail, visible or not, including the nail bed, nail plate, and nail matrix, which is located behind the cuticle, and beneath the skin. Onychomycosis is far from life-threatening, being among the most common nail diseases that afflict adults. Nevertheless, it’s a fungal infection, and is therefore highly contagious. In her study of onychomycosis, dermatologist Boni Elewski commented, “…onychomycosis is all too often regarded as merely a cosmetic problem of relatively minor importance that is hardly worth the effort to resolve.” This is a severe understatement.
Because this is such a familiar fungal infection, it’s often misdiagnosed as nail psoriasis, lichen planus, contact dermatitis, a nail bed tumor, or yellow nail syndrome. To properly diagnose onychomycosis, a laboratory study is necessary—microscopic examination and culture of nail scrapings/clippings is the typical process. This would most likely be followed up by several more of the same test, as reliability on the correct diagnosis usually requires several samples. It’s a process to diagnose onychomycosis, but there are, however, quite a few general symptoms that the afflicted patient should be aware of.
At the early stages of onychomycosis, symptoms can generally be characterized by a discoloration of the nails, including a yellow or white patch. Soon after (assuming treatment is not applied) the nail will begin to obtain a thickened, yellow, cloudy appearance. As the symptoms crest, fingernails and/or toenails can and will begin to crumble, sometimes ultimately breaking away from the digit’s nail bed. Occasionally, as a result of an untreated fungal infection, dermatophytids will form. Dermatophytids are fungus-free lesions that most commonly present
Cited: Elewski, Boni. (July 1998). Onychomycosis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Retrieved September 21, 2011, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88888/ N/A. (N/A). Symptoms of Onychomycosis. Flash-med. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from http://www.flash-med.com/Onychomycosis.asp Onychomycosis. (September 18, 2011). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychomycosis Ratz, John. (N/A). Onchomycosis. emedicinehealth. Retrieved September 21, 2011, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/onychomycosis/article_em.htm Tosti, Antonella. (May 5, 2010). Onychomycosis. Medscape Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2011, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1105828-overview#showall