Onychomycosis can be caused by Candida species, especially if certain risk factors are present.
Risk factors for Candidal onychomycosis:
(1) age extremes (infant or young child, elderly)
(2) diabetes mellitus
(3) Cushing's disease
(4) Raynaud's syndrome or other peripheral vascular disease
(5) HIV
(6) immunosuppression
(7) therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics
(8) trauma to the nails
(9) nail dystrophy
(10) abnormal nail fold
(11) poor hygiene
(12) smoking
(13) malnutrition
(14) keeping the hands wet
(15) exposures to chemical irritants
Identifying risk factors is important when managing the patient, since control of the risk factors improves response to antifungal therapy.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Dermatology
