One of the fundamental factors for successful treatment of mycoses is contacting the right doctor. Patients often confuse the doctor's specialty and do not know which doctor to contact if they have nail fungus. As a result, valuable time is wasted, additional money and nerves are wasted.
A fungal infection requires immediate treatment. The earlier the disease is recognized and diagnosed, the more effective the therapy is. The choice of doctor also depends on the stage of the disease. In advanced forms of the disease, the help of several doctors, including a surgeon, is required.
About the disease
Mycosis is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria. Adults in particular are susceptible to it, but children are not immune to infection either. The disease initially affects the areas between the fingers and gradually spreads to the nail plates. The fungus destroys keratin, the main component of the nail. The result is fragility of the plate, cessation of growth, the formation of cracks and specific spots on the nail surface.
Causes of infection
There are several causes of a fungal infection. The main ones should be highlighted:
- Weak immunity.
If the body is weakened by diseases or does not receive the required amount of vitamins, there is a risk of developing mycosis. The body's protective barriers cannot prevent the disease from spreading.
- Exhausted nervous system.
Frequent stress, nervous breakdowns and the habit of taking everything to heart contribute to a weakening of the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
- Failure to comply with hygiene regulations.
Most often the mushroom is collected in public places. Inattention and negligence towards one's own cleanliness are the main reasons for the spread of mycoses. You should always wash your hands before eating in cafes, bars, restaurants and after using the toilet. When using athletic or gaming shoes at rental centers or entertainment centers, always carry spare socks or tights. It is also recommended to carry hand sanitizer gel with you so that you can protect your palms from dirt and germs when there is no faucet nearby.
- Inappropriate communication with animals.
Fungal spores are transmitted not only by people but also by animals. All lovers of petting stray cats and dogs should break the habit. No matter how cute the animals are, they pose a health risk. If contact still occurs, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap, treat them with a disinfectant solution and wash your clothes.
- Improper storage of shoes and hosiery.
The fungus reproduces most easily in a warm and humid environment. Considering this fact, after a walk in the rain or on damp ground, you need to dry your shoes by placing them near a radiator or heater and adding wet socks or tights to the laundry. If you let your shoes dry on their own, there is no guarantee that they will dry completely. Meanwhile, spores can be activated very quickly and the very next day a person becomes infected with mycosis.
In almost all cases of fungal infection, the person is to blame. It is worth paying more attention to details, not ignoring hygiene rules and only using your own clothes and shoes. You also need to monitor your health. Take vitamins and micronutrient capsules regularly. In a healthy and pure person the disease goes away.
Symptoms of the disease
Medicine knows more than ten types of mycoses. And there are tens of thousands of pathogens that cause this disease. Of course, each type differs from the other in its characteristic symptoms. But we can recognize the main symptoms of the disease. They occur in every patient in one form or another.
Main symptoms:
- thickened or thinned nail plate;
- Loss of shine of the nail, acquisition of dullness;
- the nail begins to crack and peel off;
- Change in the color of the nail plate (white, yellow, brown, green, black);
- the appearance of spots, stripes and dots on the nail;
- the appearance of blisters, ulcers;
- Discharge of mucus under the nail.
Other characteristic symptoms include itching and burning in the area of the affected fingers or toes. The pain may become so severe that the person needs to take painkillers.
The fungus often spreads beyond the nail. The edges of the nail, the interdigital space and the foot are affected. In rare and particularly 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 is its main problem. Due to the lost time, the infection develops and takes root in the patient's body. An infection in later stages is very difficult to completely eliminate. Those infected require six months of treatment for the therapy to have a positive result. Sometimes the mycelium penetrates so deeply that healing takes a lifetime. Only temporary improvements can be achieved, then the fungus returns.
It is extremely difficult to detect mycosis in the early stages. The symptoms are not as pronounced as in the subsequent stages, when the bacteria form mycelium - their mycelium. Patients do not pay attention to the slight itching and confuse it with fatigue after walking. Some people don't react at all to changes in plate color. Crumbling and brittle nails are often mistaken for a temporary illness that should go away on its own.
Recognizing at least one symptom is a reason to immediately see a doctor. However, not everyone knows which doctor treats nail fungus. Usually people go to a therapist, but that's not entirely true. You should make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist.
The medical facility will conduct the necessary tests and tell you whether the person is actually infected with the infection. It is impossible to independently determine its presence, just as it is impossible to find out the type. Namely, the specific treatment and recommendations for recovery depend on the type of mycosis.
Contact a dermatologist
Since fungus is a skin disease, it is logical to see a dermatologist. He examines the nail suspected of having an infection, asks the patient about his condition and refers him for tests. After receiving the results of the medical examinations, the dermatologist will make a judgment.
If the disease is in its early stages, this specialist can solve the problem. If the mycosis is advanced or is characterized by complex symptoms, the doctor will send the patient for an appointment with a mycologist.
It should be remembered that a dermatologist is a doctor with a broader spectrum. He treats all skin diseases but does not have specific knowledge. They can be obtained from a mycologist who specializes exclusively in the treatment of fungi.
Appointment with a mycologist
A mycologist treats all forms of fungal infections - from early to advanced stages. This specialist carries out initial examinations, determines the appropriate tests and develops a treatment algorithm. If the patient has the opportunity, it is better to immediately consult a mycologist. This saves him time and gives him a more competent and clear answer to the question about the nature of his illness and its treatment.
An appointment with a mycologist is usually subject to a fee. Doctors treat patients in special centers where a general practitioner or dermatologist prescribes a referral. Only a few clinics have a personal mycologist.
The mycologist accompanies the patient from the first appointment until recovery. Changing doctors during treatment is not recommended. A new doctor will need time to study the medical history and that is a waste of time.
After the patient recovers, the mycologist prescribes advice on maintaining health. Preventative measures must be strictly adhered to. In this case, the fungus does not return.
Diagnosis and treatment algorithm
The treatment of mycoses consists of sequential phases. It is important to carry out each of these treatments on time and 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 examinations.
- Take tests and receive their results.
- Repeated visits to the doctor and determination of further treatment.
- Purchase of medication for therapy.
Then the patient must visit the doctor regularly to monitor the progress of the disease. If the effect is positive, the therapy is continued and ends with recovery. If there is a negative reaction to medication or no improvement, additional examinations are carried out and new therapy is prescribed.
Tests to clarify the diagnosis
For effective treatment, an accurate diagnosis of the cause and type of disease is required. The type of therapy depends on the type of pathogen.
Basic diagnostic tests:
- Microbiological methods.
First, the doctor must determine whether the patient is actually infected. To do this, he has to remove material, i. e. a potentially infected nail. The doctor scrapes or cuts off part of the plate. The material is then placed in a solution and then examined under a microscope by a specialist. This detects the presence or absence of harmful bacteria that caused the infection.
- ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay).
The doctor takes blood from a patient's vein. The analysis result comes quickly. The answer indicates the reaction to mycosis: positive, negative or unspecified. In the latter case, it is necessary to take additional tests or repeat blood donation in a week.
- PCR study.
As in the first study, PCR requires scraping. This allows the doctor to accurately say whether a person is a carrier of the infection or not. Of the minuses, it is worth mentioning the fact that PCR cannot identify the type of fungus. The doctor simply announces his presence or absence.
The fungus in its early stages is difficult to diagnose the first time. This is called an unmarked reaction. To get a final diagnosis, doctors send the patient for further tests or ask them to come back in one to two weeks. The doctors will then consult and tell you which doctor the patient should go to next if they have been diagnosed with nail fungus. Most likely it will be a mycologist.
Help from other specialists
Often the help of a dermatologist and mycologist is not enough. Sometimes the patient does not have the opportunity to immediately get an appointment with a specialized specialist. Then it is advisable to see a therapist.
The therapist conducts an initial examination and, based on the examination results, prepares instructions for the tests. He will also tell you who to go to next - a dermatologist or a mycologist. For patients who live in small towns or residential areas of megacities, an appointment with a therapist is relevant. Not every clinic has its own dermatologist or mycologist. In this case, the therapist becomes a specialist who can refer the infected person for the necessary treatment.
If the nail fungus has already developed significantly and has reached an advanced stage, the patient needs 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 cuts the plate out of the nail bed and advises the patient on how to proceed.
If a patient cannot make an appointment with a specialist immediately, they should see a therapist. This doctor has all the necessary knowledge to carry out an initial examination and make recommendations for next steps regarding antifungal therapy.
Treatment in the initial stages
Early stage athlete's foot can be treated with antifungal gels, plasters and varnishes. The latter contain fungicides - substances that prevent the spread of infections. They stop the growth of bacteria and neutralize mycelium.
It is not recommended to choose medications yourself. Only a doctor can give effective advice and issue the necessary prescription after an examination.
As an addition to ointments and varnishes, you can use traditional therapeutic recipes. Particularly popular are:
- 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 often as they cause dry skin. To avoid skin damage, you need to take breaks.
Recipes based on herbs and vegetables are also in demand. For example, mint, onion and garlic compresses. It is also recommended to lubricate the affected fingers or toes with olive oil or tea tree oil.
Alternative therapies should only be used as a supplement to the main treatment, but should in no way replace it.
Treatment at the stage of development and neglect
In advanced forms of the disease, ointments and baths are indispensable. Requires the use of so-called antimycotics. They are prescribed by a doctor. The choice of tablets depends on the type of fungus, the patient's health, his age and other characteristics. Antifungal drugs are characterized by a large list of contraindications and side effects. Purchasing without a mycological prescription is prohibited.
Prevent risk of infection
To maintain health, it is necessary to take preventive measures. They prevent the risk of nail fungal infection.
Best tips:
- Use only personal hygiene items: towels, sports mats, wet wipes.
- Monitor the cleanliness of the stockings and change them regularly.
- Clean your shoes before and after you go outside.
- If the weather is humid or your feet sweat excessively, you should dry your shoes thoroughly.
- Avoid touching contact with strangers.
- Wash your hands with soap after handling animals, especially homeless animals.
- Always carry disinfectant gel with you in public places.
- It is preferable to bring personal items (if any) with you to the rental locations.
- Get regular manicures and pedicures and avoid the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on your feet.
- Only wear comfortable shoes that do not squeeze or rub your feet.
If a fungal infection has already occurred, you must follow all your doctor's recommendations. Strict adherence to therapy allows the patient 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.