The mushroom infections of the nail plate are about half of all diseases of the nails and are widespread in modern society.
In most cases, onychomycosis influences the nail plates on the legs so that the disease is not determined immediately, but in the stage of pronounced symptoms.This is an infectious disease that can not only manifest itself with a cosmetic defect, but also by a violation of the immune system and even through the digestive tract.The nail fungus cannot be underestimated, its treatment should be in good time under the control of an experienced doctor.
Causes of fungal infections
The cause of the infection of the nail plate is usually three types of mushrooms: dermatophytes, yeast -like fungi and shapes.Onychomycosis is most common in the moderate climate by the mushroom microorganisms of Trichophyton Rubrum (trichophytenrot) - 70% of cases of mushroom and trichophytone mentrophytes (trichophyton of the intermediateown) - 20% of the diagnosis.
You can infect yourself with onychomycosis in general places such as a pool, a sauna, a bath house when you wear the socks of other people and even in a pedicure session.
In addition, some people are predisposed to this disease due to various diseases.Under such pathologies, immunosuppressive conditions differ in connection with HIV infections or chronic treatment with immunosuppressants after organs transplantation or with some autoimmune diseases.
Despite the fact that untreated onychomycosis is an infectious disease, most patients do not recognize their changes in the pathological nail.Therefore, you usually contact medical help in advanced cases.Incidentally, ignoring the disease can lead to a nail loss and spread an infection into the neighboring skin.
How the disease manifests itself
Most of the time, the infection develops on the first and/or fifth foot finger (if the changes affect all nails, this is usually a symptom of another disease, such as psoriasis).First, the changes influence the edge of the nail, it changes the natural color in yellowish -brown.After the nail plate it becomes fragile and brittle, over time it changes its shape and thickens.
The most characteristic symptoms of the mushroom infection of the nails are:
- Change of the color of the nail to yellow, brown, white or black;
- Thickening of the nail plate and the development of its increased fragility;
- Deformation of the plate and the separation from the nail bed;
- an unpleasant smell that comes from an infected nail;
- The formation of an inflammatory process around the nail.
In the late stage of the disease, pronounced pain can develop in the nail and even difficulty walking.
Prevention and treatment of nail fungus
Onychomycosis should be treated as soon as possible, since the infection tends to extend to other nails.In addition, the disease in the late stage leads to the destruction of the entire nail plate, which must be removed later.
Before prescribing the treatment, the doctor will certainly prescribe a laboratory analysis that determine the type of fungus, the degree of damage and the most effective treatment.The analysis includes the recording of the material from the affected nail plate and its research under the microscope.
How is the treatment of onychomycosis?The method and duration of infection therapy depends on many factors, including the severity of the nail lesions, the type of pathogenic and the related pathologies.
Treatment of the mushroom nail infection usually begins with the use of local medicines in the form of paints, lotions or creams that deal well with the disease in the early stages.If the changes affect more than one plate, occur for a long time, local medications are supplemented by antifungales for oral administration.The doctor can prescribe medication based on Itraconazole or fluconazole.
In this case, if onychomycosis is persistent, it is not subject to a drug treatment or constantly being recurred.The doctor recommends removing the infected nail plate, which eliminates the source of infection.
Please note that onychomycosis is an infectious disease that tends to frequent relapses.Therefore, you should adhere to important preventive rules:
- Don't go barefoot in the pool, gym;
- Perform pedicure in salons with high -quality equipment disinfection;
- Monitor the cleanliness of shoes;
- Wash your feet regularly;
- React to early symptoms, for example a change in the color of the nail plate.
Attention!The source for infection of the fungal infection is shoes.It is therefore recommended to throw them or disinfect them with special importance.