NAIL FUNGUS - ONYCHOMYCOSIS

 INTRODUCTION

All people desire to live a healthy life. However, at some times some infections occurs in the body and our immune system combats against it to recover from the illness.

Here let us see about one of the most common infection that affects people of all age groups. Many people would have come across this infection. The infection is Nail Fungus.

WHAT IS A NAIL FUNGUS?

Nail fungus is an infection caused by the fungus called ‘dermatophyte’, yeast and molds too responsible for this infection. Nail fungus infects the finger or toe nails due to poor hygiene. The fungus enters into the skin if there is any cut or cracks in the skin and it grows.

ONYCHOMYCOSIS

 Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Nail fungus also referred as ‘Onychomycosis’. If the infection affects the part in between the skin of the toe and skin of the feet, the infection called as ‘Athlete’s foot’.

REASON FOR INFECTION

• Mostly it affects the older people due to blood circulation problem

• Persons having diabetes

• Low immunity

• Nail injury

• Heavy sweat

• Walking barefoot are some of the reasons.

In the most complicated situation, it causes severe pain and it may lead to a permanent damage to the nails. This results in spread along the feet if the person has week immune, diabetes. The diabetes people has low blood circulation to the feet so they have a chance of infected by the bacteria as well. The mild injury in the feet or nail fungus can causes a severe damage. Therefore, it is advisable for the diabetes patients to seek the Physician once they are infected.

SYMPTOMS

The fungus enters deeper into the skin and grows gradually. The symptoms are 

• The nails becomes thicker

• The colour of the nail changes from white to yellow brown.

• The shape of the nail changes

• The nail becomes darker due to some waste present under the nail

• The finger has odour

TREATMENT

• If the condition is normal and if there is no pain in the infected area, no treatment is required.

• In the most complicated situation, it causes severe pain and it may lead to a permanent damage to the nails. This results in spread along the feet if the person has week immune, diabetes. The diabetes people has low blood circulation to the feet so they have a chance of infected by the bacteria as well. The mild injury in the feet or nail fungus can causes a severe damage. Therefore, it is advisable for the diabetes patients to seek the Physician once they are infected.

PREVENTION

• Wash your hands and feet properly

• Wash it thoroughly if had a contact with infected nail.

• Cut the nails carefully without affecting the skin under the nails.

• Use socks made of sweat absorbing cloth.

• Wear slippers and shoes, which fit to your toe correctly.

• Use anti fungal powder for cleaning the shoes.

• Reduce using nail polish and other artificial things that affect the nails. Nails are most important.

CONCLUSION

Nail fungus is a common infection and it is self-treated. When the infection not cured by self-treatment one can seek the doctor, since it spreads to neighboring fingers as well.