Treatment of fungal nail infections

Abstract

Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) is a more common condition than is sometimes realised. Prevalence in adults is estimated at between 3–8 per cent and there are more than one million sufferers in the UK.1 Onychomycosis is often considered to be a trivial disease with only cosmetic implications but it can cause and undermine self-esteem. Moreover, if left it can lead to pain and discomfort and spread to surrounding tissues. Onychomycosis presents as a discoloured nail (white, yellow or brown), which is thick or brittle, or both. It is important to recognize that the appearance of fungal nail infections can vary. Permission was not granted for electronic publication of this article. Please refer to the hard copy.