Fungal nail plate fungal infections are about half of all nail diseases and are quite common in modern society.
In most cases, onychomycosis affects nail plates in the legs, so the disease is not noticed immediately, but at the stage of pronounced symptoms.This is an infectious disease that can manifest not only with a cosmetic defect, but also for a violation of the immune system and even the digestive tract.Nail fungus cannot be underestimated, your treatment should be opportune under the control of an experienced doctor.
Causes of fungal infection
The cause of nail plate infection is usually three types of mushrooms: dermatophytes, mushrooms and yeast -like molds.Most of the time, in the moderate climate, onicomycosis is caused by the fungal microorganisms of Trichophyton Rubrum (Red Tricophyte) - is 70% of fungus and trichophyton mentagrophytes (Inter -Redendo trichophyton) - 20% diagnosis.
You can be infected with onychomycosis in common places such as a pool, a sauna, a bathroom, when using other people's socks and even in a pedicure session.
In addition, some people are predisposed to this disease due to various diseases.Among such pathologies, immunosuppressive states are distinguished associated with HIV infection or chronic immunosuppressive treatment after organ transplantation, or with some autoimmune diseases.
Despite the fact that unreeded Onychomycosis is an infectious disease, most patients do not recognize their changes in pathological nails;Therefore, they usually turn to medical help in advanced cases.And by the way, ignoring the disease can lead to nail loss and spread infections on neighboring skin.
How the disease manifests itself
Most of the time, the infection develops in the first and/or fifth finger of the foot (if changes affect all nails, this is usually a symptom of another disease, for example, psoriasis).At first, 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 changes and thickens.
The most characteristic symptoms of fungal nail infection include:
- change in nail color to yellow, brown, white or black;
- nail plate thickening and the development of its increased fragility;
- Plate deformation and its separation of nail bed;
- An unpleasant odor that emanates 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 the difficulty in walking.
Nail fungus prevention and treatment
Onychomycosis should be treated as soon as possible because the infection tends to extend to other nails.In addition, late stage disease leads to the destruction of the entire nail plate, which should later be removed.
Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will certainly prescribe a laboratory analysis, which will determine the type of fungus, the degree of damage and choose the most effective treatment.The analysis includes the capture of the affected nail plate material and its research under the microscope.
How is the treatment of onychomycosis?The method and duration of infection therapy depend on many factors, including the severity of nail lesions, the type of pathogen and related pathologies.
Treatment of fungal nail infection usually begins with the use of local medicines in the form of varnishes, lotions or creams that deal well with the disease in the early stages.If changes affect more than one plate, they occur for a long time, local medications are complemented by antifungal agents for oral administration.The doctor may prescribe Itraconazole or fluconazole -based medications.
In the event that onychomycosis is persistent, not subjected to drug treatment or constantly recurrent, the doctor recommends removing the infected nail plate, thus eliminating the source of infection.
Note that Onychomicosis is an infectious disease prone to frequent relapses;Therefore, you must adhere to important preventive rules:
- Do not walk barefoot in the pool, gyms;
- Perform pedicures in halls with disinfection of high quality equipment;
- Monitor shoes cleaning;
- Wash your feet regularly;
- Respond to the initial symptoms, for example, a change in the color of the nail plate.
Attention!The source of re -infection of fungal infection is shoes, so it is recommended to play or disinfect it with special means about which the doctor will talk.