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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.
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