Characteristics of onychomycosis
How would you describe onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis refers to chronic fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails. Causative fungi include dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. Onychomycosis most often occurs in adults but also occurs in children.
What is characteristic of Onychogryphosis?
Onychogryphosis is a disorder of nail plate growth that is characterized by an opaque, yellow-brown thickening of the nail plate with associated gross hyperkeratosis, elongation, and increased curvature. It is often described as a “ram’s horn nail” or being “oyster-like” in appearance.
How do you confirm onychomycosis?
Specimens suspected of candidal onychomycosis should be taken from the affected nail bed closest to the proximal and lateral edges. Nail fragments must be small enough for examination under low power. Large pieces of nail plate may be pulverized prior to microscopy by using a hammer or a nail micronizer.
How would you describe onychomycosis on a physical exam?
White/yellow or orange/brown longitudinal streaks in the nail plate (dermatophytoma) are quite specific for onychomycosis. Nonspecific, but common clinical findings include: onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, nail thickening, and crumbling (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).
What is another name for onychogryphosis?
Onychogryphosis — also known as ram’s horn nails — is a condition mostly affecting the big toenail, in which one set of toenails grows substantially more, and faster, than the other.
What are the causes of onychogryphosis?
6 causes of onychogryphosis
- Foot trauma. Repeatedly hurting your feet — or minor foot trauma — can damage the toes and nail plates, eventually leading to onychogryphosis. …
- Fungal infection. …
- Psoriasis. …
- Peripheral vascular disease. …
- Ichthyosis. …
- Tuberous sclerosis complex.
What are the types of onychomycosis?
Four types of onychomycosis, characterized according to clinical presentation and the route of invasion, are recognized.
- Distal Subungual Onychomycosis. …
- Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis. …
- White Superficial Onychomycosis. …
- Candida Infections of the Nail. …
- Total Dystrophic Onychomycosis.
What type of fungus causes onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is caused by various organisms, most often dermatophytes of the genus Trichophyton. Other organisms include Candida, which is more common in fingernail infections (eFigure A) and in patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Nondermatophyte molds are a less common cause in the general population.
How can you tell the difference between onychomycosis and nail psoriasis?
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infection caused by fungi.
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Recognizing the symptoms.
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Recognizing the symptoms.
| Symptoms of nail psoriasis | Symptoms of nail fungus |
|---|---|
| pitting, thickening, or deformation of the nails | pitting, thickening, or deformation of the nails |
| yellowing or browning of the nails | darkening of nail color |
What is the difference between onychomycosis and onycholysis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail unit [1]. Subungual thickening or hyperkeratosis can occur under the nail plate, resulting in onycholysis or lifting of the nail bed. Onycholysis, specifically is the loss of plate-bed adhesion. Onycholysis does not by itself signify onychomycosis.
Which of the following commonly causes onycholysis?
Contact irritants, trauma, and moisture are the most common causes of onycholysis, but other associations exist.
What is the medical term for ingrown toenail?
They arise if the toenail grows into the skin next to it. That area becomes inflamed and painful. The medical term for ingrown toenails is onychocryptosis or unguis incarnates.
What is proximal subungual onychomycosis?
Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) is the rarest form of onychomycosis. The pathogenic fungus invades the nail plate from the eponychium and nail matrix, and then spreads distally in PSO1. PSO initially presents as whitish patch(es) on the proximal side of the nail plate(s).
What is the inflammation of the skin at the base of the nail called?
Paronychia is nail inflammation that may result from trauma, irritation or infection. It can affect fingernails or toenails. Paronychia can develop when bacteria enter broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold, causing an infection. The cuticle is the skin at the base of the nail.