Comparative Study of Systemic Antifungal Drugs Used in Treatment of Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis accounts for up to 30% of all superficial infections of skin and constitutes about a half of all nail abnormalities; affecting approximately 5% of population worldwide

The prevalence of onychomycosis is determined by age, social class, occupation, climate, living environment and frequency of travel Despite being common dermatological presentation, the exact prevalence of onychomycosis remains largely unknown.

Toenails are more commonly affected than fingernails due to slower rate of growth of the former, reduced blood supply and usual confinement in dark moist environments The infection is more common in adult males (particularly elderly > 60 yrs of age), diabetics, immunocompromised individuals (e.g. HIV positive), individuals with peripheral vascular (arterial) disease, previous tineapedis infection, history of trauma to the nail, or those with a family history of onychomycosis Dermatophytes whether pathogenic or saprophytes are the commonest causative nail invaders Dermatophytic onychomycosis can be divided into four major clinical types on the basis of their presenting clinical features; distal and lateral subungualonychomycosis (DLSO), proximal subungualonychomycosis (PSO), white superficial onychomycosis (WSO) and total dystrophic onychomycosis (TDO) , Among these,distal and lateral subungualonychomycosis( DLSO) is the most common form.

Clinical diagnosis by physical examination alone can be inaccurate as many non infectious conditions that mimic onychomycosis like lichen planus, psoriasis need to be ruled out . Various laboratory techniques have been used to accurately diagnose onychomycosis, with microscopy by KOH and fungal culture being the most frequently used The histopathology of nail clippings can be utilized for diagnosing onychomycosis, with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain that allows easy visualization of fungal hyphae . Digital dermoscopy, also called onychoscopy, is an easy and quick procedure that allows differential diagnosis of onychomycosis from the common nail dystrophies.

Dystrophic nails can be a social impediment causing significant embarrassment that affects patient's self-esteem. In addition, thickened nails can be painful, interfere with the function of the nail unit and may cause discomfort in walking, standing and exercising.