How To Medically Treat Nail Fungus


Warning: This article is for information only and can not be used to supplement your doctor's advice. You should contact your doctor for nail fungus treatment.

Treatment Of Toe Nail Fungus

Medical Care:

Several years ago the medical management of OM was limited to topical therapy and 2 unreliable systemic drugs: griseofulvin and ketoconazole. Topical therapy is beneficial only for mild cases involving the very distal nail plate. The use of griseofulvin and ketoconazole is plagued by high relapse rates (70-85%), prolonged treatment regimens (10-18 mo for toenails), constant laboratory monitoring, and numerous adverse effects. The introduction of newer oral agents has revolutionized the medical treatment of OM and reduced potential adverse effects and drug interactions. As the rate of recurrence remains high, even with newer agents, the decision to treat should be made with a clear understanding of the cost and risks involved as well as the risk of recurrence..

Topical antifungals

The use of topical agents should be limited to cases involving less than half of the distal nail plate or for patients unable to tolerate systemic treatment. Agents include amorolfine (approved in other countries), ciclopirox olamine 8% nail lacquer solution, sodium pyrithione, bifonazole/urea (available outside the United States), propylene glycol-urea-lactic acid, the imidazoles, and the allylamines.

Topical treatments alone are generally unable to cure OM because of insufficient nail plate penetration. Ciclopirox solution has been reported to penetrate through all nail layers but has low efficacy when used as monotherapy. It may be useful as adjunctive therapy in combination with oral therapy or as prophylaxis to prevent recurrence in patients cured with systemic agents.

Oral therapy

The newer generation of oral antifungal agents (itraconazole and terbinafine) has replaced older therapies in the treatment of nail fungus. They offer shorter treatment regimens, higher cure rates, and fewer adverse effects. Fluconazole (not approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for treatment of nail fungus) offers an alternative to itraconazole and terbinafine. Derivatives of fluconazole may also be available soon. The efficacy of the newer antifungal agents lies in their ability to penetrate the nail plate within days of starting therapy. Recent evidence shows better efficacy with terbinafine than other oral agents.

To decrease the adverse effects and duration of oral therapy, topical and surgical treatments may be combined with oral antifungal management.

Surgical Care:

Surgical approaches to nail fungus treatment include surgical nail avulsion and matrixectomy by chemical or mechanical means.Chemical removal by using a 40-50% urea compound should be reserved for patients with very thick nails or for those who may not tolerate mechanical avulsion.

Removal of the nail plate should be considered an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing oral therapy.

A combination of oral, topical, and surgical therapy can increase efficacy and reduce cost.

Activity: Activity does not need to be limited during treatment, but patients should be educated about avoiding direct contact with high-risk areas in public places.

Gregory Mburu is a medical professional and a marketer part time. He post info about nail fungus on his blog athttp://nail-fungus-cure.blogspot.com


MORE RESOURCES:

MinuteClinic co-founder launches e-medicine startup
Bizjournals.com, NC - 9 hours ago
Nearly a decade after he came up with the idea that became MinuteClinic, Rick Krieger thinks he’s come across a new way to change health care. ...


University of South Alabama College of Medicine Chooses MDaudit(TM)
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
... WIRE) -- Hayes Management Consulting announced today that it will provide its MDaudit(TM) software to University of South Alabama College of Medicine. ...


Boston Globe (registration)

Auto bailout: The best medicine?
Florida Times-Union, FL - 5 hours ago
By The Times-Union They already received $25 billion in low interest government loans intended to help them transition to a new generation of fuel efficient ...
Detroit bailout? No way! The Oregonian - OregonLive.com
American taxpayers should not be forced to bailout Big Three Statesville Record & Landmark
all 432 news articles


Exploring: medicine the world of
Asbury Park Press, NJ - 1 hour ago
The club, which offers education and activities for teenagers considering a career in medicine, is a program of Learning for Life, a Boy Scouts of America ...


WNCT

Three Employees Fired After Patient Chokes on Medicine, Dies
FOXNews - Nov 20, 2008
GOLDSBORO, NC — North Carolina officials have fired three employees and disciplined others in the death of a patient who was neglected for more than 22 ...
Firings a good first step in neglect case CharlotteObserver.com
all 39 news articles


Detroit prepares to swallow some bitter medicine
Financial Times, UK - 8 hours ago
By Bernard Simon in Los Angeles Among the many conditions imposed on Chrysler by Washington in the bail-out of 1979, none is said to have angered the ...


National Academy of Sports Medicine Launches New Course ...
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
CALABASAS, CA, Nov 21, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM; www.nasm.org), a leader in fitness training ...


Entry Level Finding Ways to Help Children With Cancer
New York Times, United States - 18 hours ago
She comes to the job with a master’s degree in Oriental medicine from Touro College and a lifelong love of cooking. On doing acupuncture on small children: ...


PR Web (press release)

BodyLogicMD Sponsors American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
"It is a natural step for BodyLogicMD in terms of demonstrating our growth and support in the field of anti-aging medicine and bioidentical hormone therapy. ...
BodyLogicMD Opens Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Location in Chicago PR Web (press release)
all 12 news articles


guardian.co.uk

The wrong medicine
TheDay, CT - 23 hours ago
If we had any reasonable expectation that a $25 billion federal loan would fix what ails the Detroit auto industry, we would support it. ...
Video: Automakers Testify As Hopes for Aid Falter AssociatedPress
America's Automakers in Competition with Other Governments Seeking Alpha
all 982 news articles

Medicine - Google News

home | site map
© 2006