One of the fundamental factors for the successful treatment of mycosis is contacting the right doctor. Patients often confuse the specialization of doctors and do not know which doctor to go to in case of nail fungus. As a result, precious time, extra money and nerves are wasted.
A fungal infection requires immediate treatment. The earlier the disease is detected and diagnosed, the more effective the therapy will be. Additionally, the choice of doctor depends on the stage of the disease. In advanced forms of the disease, the help of several doctors, including a surgeon, will be required.
About the disease
Mycosis is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria. Adults are mainly susceptible to it, but children are not immune to infection either. The disease first affects the areas between the fingers and gradually progresses to the nail plates. The fungus destroys keratin, the main component of the nail. The result is the fragility of the plate, stopping its growth, the formation of cracks and specific spots on the nail surface.
Causes of infection
There are several causes of fungal infection. The main ones should be highlighted:
- Weak immunity.
If the body is weakened by a disease or does not receive the necessary amount of vitamins, a person is at risk of contracting mycosis. The body's protective barriers will not be able to prevent the spread of the disease.
- Exhausted nervous system.
Frequent stress, nervous breakdowns and the habit of taking everything seriously contribute to the deterioration of the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
- Neglect of hygiene rules.
Mainly, the fungus is contracted in public places. Inattention and negligence regarding cleaning are the main reasons for the spread of mycosis. You should always wash your hands before eating in cafes, bars, restaurants and after using the bathroom. You should always carry spare socks or stockings when wearing athletic or play shoes at rental centers or entertainment centers. It is also recommended to carry hand sanitizer so that if there is no water tap nearby, you can treat your palms from dirt and germs.
- Inappropriate communication with animals.
Fungal spores are carried not only by people, but also by animals. All lovers of petting stray dogs and cats should stop this habit. No matter how beautiful animals are, they pose a health hazard. If contact occurs, it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly with soap, treat them with a disinfectant solution and wash your clothes.
- Improper storage of shoes and socks.
The fungus reproduces more easily in a warm, humid environment. Taking this fact into account, after walking in the rain or on wet ground, it is necessary to dry your shoes by placing them near a radiator or heater and wash wet socks or tights. If you let your shoes dry on their own, there is no guarantee that they will dry completely. Meanwhile, the spores can activate very quickly and the next day the person becomes infected with mycosis.
In almost all cases of fungal infection, the person themselves are to blame. It is worth paying more attention to details, not ignoring hygiene rules and wearing only your own clothes and shoes. You also need to monitor your health. Take vitamin and micronutrient capsules regularly. For a healthy and clean person, the disease will pass.
Symptoms of the disease
Medicine knows more than ten types of mycoses. And there are several tens of thousands of causative agents of this disease. Naturally, each type is differentiated from the other by its characteristic symptoms. But we can identify the main signs of the disease. They are found in all patients in one variation or another.
Main symptoms:
- thickened or thinned nail plate;
- loss of nail shine, acquisition of dullness;
- the nail begins to crack and peel;
- change in the color of the nail plate (white, yellow, brown, green, black);
- the appearance of spots, stripes, dots on the nail;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers;
- mucus discharge under the nail.
Other characteristic symptoms are itching and burning in the area of the affected fingers or toes. The pain can become so intense that the person must take painkillers.
The fungus usually spreads beyond the nail. It affects the nail ridges, the interdigital space and the foot. In rare and especially severe cases, the disease spreads throughout the body. Sometimes pathogenic bacteria even affect internal organs.
Detection of nail fungus.
The difficulty of identifying the disease lies in its main problem. It is due to the wasted time that the infection develops and takes root in the patient's body. Infection in later stages is very difficult to completely eradicate. Those infected need six months of treatment for the therapy to give positive results. Sometimes the mycelium becomes so deeply embedded that it takes a lifetime to heal. It is possible to achieve only temporary improvements and then the fungus returns again.
It is extremely difficult to detect mycosis at an early stage. The symptoms are not as pronounced as in the later stages, when bacteria create mycelium, their mycelium. Patients do not pay attention to the slight itching, mistaking it for fatigue after walking. Some people do not react at all to changes in the color of the plate. People confuse brittle, crumbling nails with a temporary illness that should go away on its own.
Detection of at least one symptom is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. However, not everyone knows which doctor treats nail fungus. Normally people go to a therapist, but this is not entirely true. You must make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist.
The medical center will perform the necessary tests and tell you if the person is really infected with the infection. It is impossible to independently determine its presence, just as it is impossible to discover the type. That is, the specific treatment and recovery recommendations depend on the type of mycosis.
Contact a dermatologist
Since fungus is a skin disease, it is logical to seek help from a dermatologist. He or she will examine the suspected infected nail, interview the patient about their condition, and refer them for testing. After receiving the results of the medical tests, the dermatologist will issue a verdict.
If the disease is at an early stage, this specialist will be able to solve the problem. If the mycosis is in an advanced form or is characterized by complex symptoms, the doctor will send the patient to an appointment with a mycologist.
It should be remembered that a dermatologist is a doctor with a broader scope of practice. She treats all skin diseases, but has no specific knowledge. They are available from a mycologist who specializes solely in treating fungus.
Appointment with a mycologist.
A mycologist treats all forms of fungal infection, from early to advanced stages. This specialist performs initial examinations, determines which tests will be appropriate, and develops a treatment algorithm. If the patient has the opportunity, it is better for him to immediately go to a mycologist. This way he will save time and receive a more competent and clear answer to the question about the type of his illness and how to treat it.
An appointment with a mycologist usually has a cost. Doctors see patients in special centers, where a referral is prescribed by a general practitioner or dermatologist. Few clinics have a personal mycologist.
The mycologist will guide the patient from the first appointment until recovery. It is not recommended to change doctors during treatment. A new doctor will need time to study the medical history, and this is a waste of time.
Once the patient has recovered, the mycologist prescribes advice to maintain health. Preventive measures must be strictly observed. In this case, the fungus will not return.
Diagnosis and treatment algorithm.
Treatment of mycosis consists of sequentially related stages. It is important to undergo each of them on time under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
Antifungal therapy algorithm:
- Contact a dermatologist or go directly to a mycologist.
- Initial examination and obtaining a referral for testing.
- Perform tests and receive your results.
- Repeated appointment with the doctor and determination of subsequent treatment.
- Purchase of medications for therapy.
The patient must then periodically visit the doctor to monitor the progress of the disease. If the effect is positive, the therapy continues and ends with recovery. If there is a negative reaction to the medications or there is no improvement, additional studies are performed and new therapy is prescribed.
Tests to clarify the diagnosis.
For effective treatment, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause and type of disease. The nature of the therapy will depend on the type of pathogen.
Basic diagnostic tests:
- Microbiological methods.
First of all, the doctor must determine if the patient is really infected. To do this, he needs to take material, that is, a potentially infected nail. The doctor scrapes or cuts away part of the plaque. The material is then placed in a solution, after which it is examined under a microscope by a specialist. This is how you see the presence or absence of harmful bacteria that caused the infection.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
The doctor draws blood from a patient's vein. The analysis result arrives quickly. The response indicates the reaction to the mycosis: positive, negative or unspecified. In the latter case, it is necessary to carry out additional tests or repeat the blood donation in a week.
- PCR study.
As in the first study, PCR requires scraping. As a result, the doctor can accurately say whether a person is carrying the infection or not. Of the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the fact that PCR cannot identify the type of fungus. The doctor only announces his presence or absence.
The fungus in its initial stage is difficult to diagnose the first time. This is what is called an unlabeled reaction. To obtain a final diagnosis, doctors will send the patient for additional tests or ask them to return in a week or two. The doctors will then consult and tell which doctor the patient should see next if they have nail fungus. Most likely he is a mycologist.
Help from other specialists
Many times the help of a dermatologist and mycologist is not enough. Sometimes the patient does not have the opportunity to make an immediate appointment with a specialized specialist. Then it is recommended to consult a therapist.
The therapist will perform an initial examination and, based on the results of the examination, will write instructions for the tests. He will also tell you who to go to next: a dermatologist or a mycologist. An appointment with a therapist is relevant for patients who live in small cities or residential areas of megacities. Not all clinics have their own dermatologist or mycologist. In this case, the therapist becomes a specialist who can guide the infected person towards the necessary treatment.
If the nail fungus has already developed quite severely and has reached an advanced stage, the patient will need to make an appointment with a surgeon. Sometimes professional intervention is required. Sometimes there is no way to save the affected nail. It must be removed surgically. The doctor will cut the plate from the nail bed and advise the patient on further actions to take.
If a patient cannot immediately make an appointment with a specialist, she should consult a therapist. This doctor has all the knowledge necessary to perform an initial examination and make recommendations on next steps in terms of antifungal therapy.
Treatment in the initial stage
Athlete's foot in its early stages can be treated with antifungal gels, patches, and varnishes. The latter contain fungicides, substances that prevent the spread of infections. They stop the growth of bacteria and neutralize the mycelium.
It is not recommended to select medications yourself. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination, can give effective advice and write the necessary prescription.
As a complement to ointments and varnishes, you can use recipes for traditional therapies. The following are especially popular:
- vinegar;
- iodine;
- potassium permanganate;
- table or sea salt.
They are used to make lotions and baths. Iodine and potassium permanganate should not be used too frequently as they cause dry skin. To avoid damaging the skin, it is necessary to take breaks.
Recipes based on herbs and vegetables are also in demand. For example, mint, onion and garlic compresses. Additionally, it is recommended to rub the affected fingers or toes with olive oil or tea tree oil.
Alternative therapy should only be used as a complement to the main treatment, but in no case should it replace it.
Treatment at the stage of development and neglect.
In advanced forms of the disease, ointments and baths are essential. It requires the use of so-called antifungals. They are prescribed by a doctor. The choice of tablets is based on the type of fungus, the patient's health, age and other characteristics. Antifungals are characterized by a large list of contraindications and side effects. It is prohibited to buy them without a prescription from a mycologist.
Prevent the risk of infection
To maintain good health it is necessary to take preventive measures. They will prevent the risk of nail fungus infection.
Tips:
- Use only personal hygiene items: towels, sports mats, wet wipes.
- Check the cleanliness of the socks and change them periodically.
- Clean your shoes before and after going out.
- In case of humid weather or excessive foot sweating, dry your shoes well.
- Avoid tactile contact with strangers.
- After handling animals, especially homeless ones, wash your hands with soap.
- Always carry disinfectant gel with you to public places.
- It is preferable to bring personal belongings (if any) to the rental bases.
- Get manicures and pedicures regularly and avoid the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on your feet.
- Wear only comfortable shoes that won't pinch or rub your feet.
If a fungal infection has already occurred, you should follow all of your doctor's recommendations. If you strictly adhere to the therapy, the patient will be able to recover and forget about the unpleasant disease. But you have to be patient: the infection is difficult to eradicate. It will take several months, and perhaps years.