Medizinische Monatsschrift für Pharmazeuten
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Med Monatsschr Pharm · Aug 2009
Review[Antimycotic therapy of Tinea unguium and other onychomycoses].
Mycosis of foot or finger nails (onychomycosis) is the second most common fungal skin infection in industrialized countries. In Germany, estimated 10 to 17% of the total adult population and almost one half of all people beyond the age of 65 are suffering from an onychomycosis. In most cases, mycoses of toe nails are caused by a dermatophyte species (Tinea unguium), especially Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. ⋯ If nail matrix is infected, a systemic treatment approach is generally recommended (independent of onychomycosis form). The prospects of success of local and systemic therapy can be enlarged applying nail abrasion and chemical avulsion of the diseased part of the nail. An improved effectiveness of systematic treatment is also achieved by concomitant application of topical antifungals.