Symptoms of nail fungus infection include the following:
a. Nail discoloration
b. Brittle or frail nails
c. Thickened nail growth
d. Irregular growth of nails
e. Painful affected toe
A Visit to a Doctor
At the early signs of nail fungus, a visit to a doctor will help a lot. This allows the doctor to properly diagnose the condition and rule out other problems. If you are apprehensive to consult a doctor, giving you an idea of how it is going to be like may convince you to go:
Personal Background – The doctor will ask you questions related to the nature of your work, hobbies, sports and overall lifestyle. He might also ask about your diet, vices, and personal hygiene. Answers to these questions will give him an idea where you might have been exposed to conditions that may cause nail fungus.
Medical History - This part of the interview will deal with your previous health problems. He will ask if you are going under a treatment for similar problems like athlete's foot. He will also probe if you have diabetes, HIV or blood circulation issues that may make you more susceptible to nail fungus. You will also be asked about the quality of footwear you regularly use, or if you have been into nail extensions or nail polish which may have triggered the development of the fungi.
Family History – The doctor will need to establish if the same condition or similar conditions have occurred in your family. A positive history of psoriasis in the family may make one more prone to nail fungus. The doctor will use this information to rule out or compare the symptoms of the different disease entities your family might have encountered.
Ocular Inspection - The doctor will thoroughly inspect the nails and nail beds of your fingers and toes. He will take note of any discolorations, malformations or irregular debris accumulation around or beneath the nails. He will take note of cracks, brittleness and thickness of your nails.
Diagnosis - A sample of the nail or the tissue beneath it may be necessary to properly confirm the presence of nail fungus. The piece of nail or tissue will be submitted to the laboratory for culturing or for observation under a microscope. Presence of microorganisms will confirm you have nail fungus.
Treatment - The doctor will prescribe medicines you have to take religiously for several weeks so you can get rid of nail fungus. Aside from oral medications, some topical ointment or cream may also be suggested.
As you can see, going to the doctor is far from being scary or painful. What will be painful is having you fungus-infected nail to be removed surgically, if it is not treated early on. Follow-up visits may also be necessary to properly monitor the progress of the treatment of the nail fungus.
Learn more about nail fungus from different websites dedicated to the subject. Professional help and medicines can also be found online.
