Relapse and Reinfection of Onychomycosis

Kim, Ki Hong

Abstract

Onychomycosis is a common nail disease caused by a fungal infection. Mycologically confirmed onychomycosis should be treated. This is based on disease-specific considerations; cosmetic and functional disability, lack of spontaneous remission, impairment of health and well-being in elderly patients and need to reduce contamination in public bathing places and interpersonal infection among family. Though severity of onchomycosis is variable, treatment schedule is same according to fingernail onychomycosis and toenail onychomycosis. Combined treatment should be considered in special conditions; severe onycholysis, lateral onychomycosis, dermatophytoma, longitudinal streaks of onychomycosis, fungal disease involving the lunula, thickened nail plate. Duration of treatment should adjust to the individual cases by its severity of infection and infected characteristics. Objective method should be used to evaluate regularly efficacy of antifungal agents. Long-term and careful follow-up is necessary to reduce relapse or reinfection.