Onychomycosis is caused by 3 main classes of
fungi: dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds.
Dermatophytes are by far the most common cause of onychomycosis. Two
major pathogens are responsible for approximately 90% of all
onychomycosis cases.
If you have toenail fungus and it goes untreated,
you may experience: Pain in your feet and toes due to thickened,
distorted toenails. Spread of the fungus to your skin, causing
athlete's foot. Infection of the surrounding areas, causing cracked
skin, and increasing bacterial spread.Aug
23, 2021
Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure,
and they typically don't go away without antifungal treatment. The
best treatment for a fungal nail infection is usually prescription
antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a doctor might
remove the nail completely.
A severe case of nail fungus can be painful
and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to
other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a
suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other
conditions.Jul 14, 2020
Systemic antifungal agents are the most
effective treatment for onychomycosis, but cure rates are much less
than 100%. Terbinafine (Lamisil) is the most effective systemic agent
available.Dec 1, 2013
An infected person can spread the fungus to
someone else through direct contact. You can also get toenail
fungus by touching an infected surface.Dec
17, 2020
In medical terms this is called onychomycosis
or tinea unguium,” says Batra. The fungal infection breaks down
the keratin in the nail to form a white or yellow chalky substance
under the nail plate. "As keratin debris spreads under the nail, the
nail plate typically becomes lifted up off of the nail bed.Jan
31, 2018
If you have a case of toenail fungus, please
do not ignore this problem. Serious complications can arise if you
do not have the fungus treated, including foot pain, widespread
infection, the loss of your nail and more. Here is more information on
the potential complications.
Fungal nail infections can get worse over time.
See your doctor if you notice your nail has turned brown or black,
if it suddenly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed.Nov
12, 2020
Onychomycosis is more difficult to treat than
most dermatophytoses because of the inherent slow growth of the nail.
Older antifungal agents (ketoconazole and griseofulvin) are unsuitable
for onychomycosis because of their relatively poor efficacy and
potential adverse effects.