One of the fundamental factors for the success of mycosis treatment is finding the right doctor. Patients often confuse the specialization of doctors and do not know which doctor to consult with nail fungus. As a result, precious time is wasted, 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. Furthermore, 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
Ringworm is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria. Adults are most susceptible to it, but children are also not immune to the infection. The disease first affects the areas between the fingers, gradually moving to the nail plates. The fungus destroys keratin, the main component of the nail. The result is the fragility of the plate, preventing its growth, formation of cracks and specific stains on the surface of the nail.
Causes of infection
There are several causes of fungal infection. The main ones should be highlighted:
- Weak immunity.
If the body is weakened by disease or does not receive the necessary amount of vitamins, the person is at risk of contracting ringworm. 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.
Mostly, the fungus is contracted in public places. Inattention and negligence regarding cleaning are the main reasons for the spread of ringworm. You should always wash your hands before eating in cafes, bars, restaurants and after using the bathroom. You should always carry spare socks or tights when wearing sports or leisure shoes at rental stores or entertainment centers. It is also recommended to carry hand sanitizer gel with you so that if there is no tap nearby, you can treat dirt and germs from your palms.
- Inadequate communication with animals.
Fungal spores are carried not only by people, but also by animals. All lovers of petting stray dogs and cats should give up this habit. No matter how cute 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 warm, humid environments. Therefore, after walking in the rain or on damp ground, you need to dry your shoes by placing them near a radiator or heater, and put on wet socks or tights to wash. If you leave your shoes to dry on their own, there is no guarantee that they will dry completely. Meanwhile, the spores can be activated very quickly, and the next day a person is infected with ringworm.
In almost all cases of fungal infection, the person is to blame. It is worth paying extra attention to detail, not disregarding hygiene rules and using 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 mycosis. And there are several tens of thousands of causative agents of this disease. Naturally, each type differs from the other in 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 opacity;
- 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 secretion 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 needs to take painkillers.
The fungus often spreads beyond the nail. It affects the nail ridges, the interdigital space and the foot. In rare and especially serious cases, the disease spreads throughout the body. Sometimes pathogenic bacteria even affect internal organs.
Nail fungus detection
The difficulty in identifying the disease lies in its main problem. It is because of the lost time that the infection develops and takes root in the patient's body. Infection in later stages is very difficult to eradicate completely. Those infected require six months of treatment for the therapy to bring 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 ringworm at an early stage. The symptoms are not as pronounced as in the subsequent stages, when the bacteria create mycelium - your mycelium. Patients do not pay attention to the slight itching, mistaking it for tiredness after walking. Some people do not react at all to changes in the color of the dish. People mistake brittle, brittle nails for a temporary illness that should go away on its own.
Detecting at least one symptom is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. However, not everyone knows which doctor treats nail fungus. Usually people go to a therapist, but this is not entirely true. You should make an appointment with a dermatologist or mycologist.
The medical center will carry out the necessary tests and inform 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. In other words, 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 seek help from a dermatologist. He will examine the nail with suspected infection, interview the patient about their condition and refer them for tests. After receiving the results of the medical examinations, the dermatologist will give the verdict.
If the disease is at an early stage, this specialist will be able to solve the problem. If the ringworm is in an advanced form or characterized by complex symptoms, the doctor will refer the patient to a consultation with a mycologist.
It is important to remember that the dermatologist is a doctor with a broader scope of practice. He treats all skin diseases, but does not have specific knowledge. They are available from a mycologist who specializes in treating fungi only.
Consultation 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 best for him to see a mycologist immediately. This way he will save time and receive a more competent and clear answer to the question about the type of his disease and how to treat it.
A consultation with a mycologist usually costs a fee. Doctors see patients in special centers, where a general practitioner or dermatologist prescribes the referral. Few clinics have a personal mycologist.
The mycologist will guide the patient from the first consultation 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.
After the patient recovers, the mycologist prescribes guidance on how to maintain health. Preventive measures must be strictly observed. In this case, the fungus will not return.
Diagnosis and treatment algorithm
Ringworm treatment consists of sequentially related steps. It is important to undergo each of them at the right time, under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
Antifungal therapy algorithm:
- Contact a dermatologist or go straight to a mycologist.
- Initial examination and obtaining referral for examinations.
- Taking tests and receiving your results.
- Repeated consultation with the doctor and determination of subsequent treatment.
- Purchase of medicines for therapy.
Then the patient should regularly visit the doctor to monitor the progress of the disease. If the effect is positive, therapy continues and ends with recovery. If there is a negative reaction to medications or no improvement, additional studies are carried out 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, the doctor must determine whether the patient is actually infected. To do this, he needs to take material, that is, a potentially infected nail. The doctor scrapes or cuts part of the plaque. The material is then placed in a solution, after which a specialist examines it under a microscope. This is how he sees 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 result of the analysis comes quickly. The answer indicates the reaction to ringworm: 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 a scraping. As a result, the doctor can accurately tell whether a person carries 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 the initial stage is difficult to diagnose the first time. This is what we call an unlabeled reaction. To obtain a final diagnosis, doctors will refer the patient for additional tests or ask them to return in one to two weeks. Then the doctors will consult and tell which doctor the patient should see next if they have established nail fungus. Most likely it will be a mycologist.
Help from other experts
Often the help of a dermatologist and mycologist is not enough. Sometimes the patient does not have the opportunity to immediately make an 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, write instructions for testing. It will also tell you who to see next - a dermatologist or mycologist. Consultation with a therapist is relevant for patients who live in small towns or residential areas of megacities. Not every clinic has its own dermatologist or mycologist. In this case, the therapist becomes a specialist who can refer the infected person to the necessary treatment.
If the nail fungus has developed significantly and reached an advanced stage, the patient will need to make an appointment with a surgeon. Sometimes professional intervention is necessary. Sometimes there is no way to save the affected nail. It has to be removed surgically. The doctor will cut the nail bed plate and advise the patient on further actions.
If the patient cannot immediately make an appointment with a specialist, he or she should consult a therapist. This doctor has all the necessary knowledge to perform an initial examination and make recommendations on the next steps in terms of antifungal therapy.
Treatment in the initial phase
Early-stage athlete's foot can be treated with antifungal gels, patches, and varnishes. The latter contain fungicides - substances that prevent the spread of infection. They stop the growth of bacteria and neutralize the mycelium.
It is not recommended to select medications independently. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination, can give effective advice and prescribe the necessary prescription.
As a supplement to ointments and varnishes, you can use traditional therapy recipes. 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 your skin, you need to take breaks.
Herbal and vegetable-based recipes are also in demand. For example, mint, onion and garlic compresses. Additionally, it is recommended to grease the affected fingers or toes with olive or tea tree oil.
Alternative therapy should only be used as a complement to the main treatment, but in no case replaces it.
Treatment in the developmental phase and neglect
In advanced forms of the disease, ointments and baths are essential. Requires the use of so-called antimycotics. They are prescribed by a doctor. The choice of tablets is based on the type of fungus, the patient's health status, his age and other characteristics. Antimycotics are characterized by a large list of contraindications and side effects. It is prohibited to buy them without a mycologist's prescription.
Preventing the risk of infection
To maintain good health it is necessary to take preventative measures. They will avoid the risk of nail fungus infection.
Tips:
- Use only personal hygiene items: towels, sports mats, wet wipes.
- Monitor the cleanliness of your socks and change pairs regularly.
- Clean your shoes before and after leaving the house.
- In case of humid weather or excessive foot sweat, dry your shoes thoroughly.
- Avoid tactile contact with strangers.
- After handling animals, especially strays, wash your hands with soap.
- Always carry disinfectant gel with you in public places.
- It is preferable to take personal belongings (if any) to the rental offices.
- Get a manicure and pedicure regularly and prevent the formation of corns, calluses and cracks on your feet.
- Wear only 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. Strictly following therapy, the patient will be able to recover and forget about the unpleasant illness. But you have to be patient - the infection is difficult to eradicate. It will take several months and perhaps years.