Fungal Toenail – Overview and Symptoms

Transcript

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail plate. Onychomycosis affects five to 15% of the United States population. Individuals with diabetes are four to five times more likely to have onychomycosis. The incidents of toenail fungus increases with advancing age. In fact, almost 50% of individuals over the age of 70 have a fungal toenail infection. Common symptoms of fungal toenails include thickening of the nail plate whitish to yellow, brown discoloration, abnormal shape, crumbling or brittleness, flakiness, and possibly odor. Pain, while not always present, can be a symptom as well. If you have tried and failed over the counter treatments and the fungus continues to be present, or you’re noticing that it is spreading, recommendation is for evaluation with a medical provider.