Onychomycosis - More than a Cosmetic Issue

Summary

The author deals in the submitted paper with the problem of onychomycoses not only from the cosmetic but inparticular from the medical aspect. Onychomycoses account for as many as 50 % of all problems affecting nails andabout 10 % of skin diseases. Very frequently onychomycosis is associated with tinea pedis. The author deals indetail, based on data in the literature, with the aetiology and views regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. Shementions various external, internal and predisposing factors which are involved in the increasing number ofonychomycoses in recent years. She describes the clinical picture of all four basic forms of the disease and analyzesdifferential diagnostic aspects. She describes in more detail other factors participating in the development ofonychomycoses such as the host and site specificity, geographical conditions, age, sex, genetic factors and others.The author also draws attention to diagnostic laboratory difficulties, in particular identification by cultivation. Inthe conclusion she mentions contemporary possibilities of local and general treatment where in recent yearssubstantial advances were made.

Key words:
onychomycosis, prevalence, diagnosis, therapy.