Onychomycosis
I. Definition:
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the finger or toenails, which is very difficult to cure.
II. Causes:
· Onychomycosis is caused by a fungus. Often a person has had athlete's foot for a long time prior to the development of onychomycosis.
· Sometimes trauma or damage to a nail predisposes to the development of onychomycosis.
III. Treatment:
· Once fungus gets into the nails, it is very difficult to treat.
· A new medication, fluconazole, is now available for the treatment of toe and fingernail fungal infections. Fluconazole is taken once a week for 4 months. The cost of treatment is $15 to $20 per week and has a 50-70% chance of curing the condition.
· If you do not want to try to cure the condition you can control onychomycosis by rubbing Lotrimin cream into the nail every day. This is available without a prescription at your local drug store.
· Vicks Vapor Rub applied to the toenails each day can improve and control toenail fungus. This treatment works as well as anything and is cheap and safe to use.
· Removal of the nail will not get rid of onychomycosis. When the new nail grows in, it almost always becomes reinfected.
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the finger or toenails, which is very difficult to cure.
II. Causes:
· Onychomycosis is caused by a fungus. Often a person has had athlete's foot for a long time prior to the development of onychomycosis.
· Sometimes trauma or damage to a nail predisposes to the development of onychomycosis.
III. Treatment:
· Once fungus gets into the nails, it is very difficult to treat.
· A new medication, fluconazole, is now available for the treatment of toe and fingernail fungal infections. Fluconazole is taken once a week for 4 months. The cost of treatment is $15 to $20 per week and has a 50-70% chance of curing the condition.
· If you do not want to try to cure the condition you can control onychomycosis by rubbing Lotrimin cream into the nail every day. This is available without a prescription at your local drug store.
· Vicks Vapor Rub applied to the toenails each day can improve and control toenail fungus. This treatment works as well as anything and is cheap and safe to use.
· Removal of the nail will not get rid of onychomycosis. When the new nail grows in, it almost always becomes reinfected.