Korean J Med Mycol.  2001 Sep;6(3):140-142.

Treatment and Prophylaxis of Onychomycosis

• Suh MK

Abstract

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails, more often toenails, and can be caused not only by dermatophytes but also by certain yeasts and non-dermatophytic mold. For the treatment of toenail onychomycosis, both terbinafine (continuous) and itraconazole (pulse) therapies are effective, safe, and associated with high compliance. Despite of high cure rates, some 20% of patients with onychomycosis still fail to benefit from therapy. In many of these cases, surgery may be needed to precede drug therapy. If extra therapy is required, one suggestion is that 4 weeks of terbinafine or an extra pulse of itraconazole are given between months 6 and 9 from the start of therapy. For prophylaxis, topical application of antifungal creams would be expected to be effective in preventing re-infection in patient with onychomycosis.

Keyword

Onychomycosis; Treatment; Prophylaxis

MeSH Terms

Arthrodermataceae
Compliance
Drug Therapy
Fungi
Humans
Itraconazole
Nails
Onychomycosis*
Yeasts
Itraconazole