Artūras Kriukas¹, Norvilė Jotautaitė¹, Alisa Maksimova – Česnavičienė¹

¹ Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

Abstract

Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection caused by dermatophytes, nondermatophytes, and yeast, and is the most common nail disorder seen in clinical practice. Diabetes, HIV, immunosuppression, obesity, smoking, and advancing age are predisposing factors of this fungal infection. It is not only problem of esthetics; however, it may cause local pain, paresthesia, difficulties performing activities of daily life, and impair social interactions. Microscopy and culture are considered the current standard for diagnosing onychomycosis, revealing both fungal viability and species identification. Methods to treat onychomycosis are varied, using therapies that can be categorized as topical, oral or device related. Preventative strategies, to help decrease recurrence and reinfection rates, include sanitization of footwear and prophylactic topical antifungal agents. 

Keywords: onychomycosis, dermatophytes, diagnosis, treatment.