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Fungal nail infection

From DrKoop's partner site on diet and exercise, MyDietExercise.com
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Nail infection, candidal
Nail infection, candidal
Alternative Names

Nails - fungal infection; Onychomycosis; Infection - fungal - nails


Symptoms
  • Nail changes on one or more nails (usually toenails):
    • Brittleness
    • Discoloration
    • Loss of luster and shine
    • Thickening
    • Distortion of nail shape
    • Crumbling of the nail
    • Debris being trapped under the nail
    • Loosening (detaching) of the nail

Signs and tests

Your doctor will suspect a fungal infection based on the appearance of the nails.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by scraping the nail for a culture, or a microscopic examination to identify the type of fungus.


Review Date: 10/26/2006
Reviewed By: Michael S. Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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