Onychomycosis is fungal disease of the nails.

Risk factors for onychomycosis include:

• old age
• peripheral vascular disease
• trauma and
• hyperhidrosis

Fungal nail infection is more common in:

• men
• with other nail problems such as psoriasis
• people with systemicillness, such as diabetes mellitus or HIV
• patients on immunosuppressive medications

Treatment consideration

Onychomycosis may cause difficulty in wearing footwear, discomfort in walking, and cosmetic embarrassment.

Prevention

• Wear protective footwear to avoid re-exposure
• Antifungal powder application in shoes and on feet
• Wear cotton absorbent socks
• Discard old footwear
• Keep nails as small as possible and do not share toenail clippers
• Treat all infected family members to avoid reinfection
• Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes to avoid trauma to the nail