Clinico-pathological study of onychomycosis

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 25 patients diagnosed clinically as onychomycosis to define the commonest fungi, and to detect the structural changes occurring in the affected nails. There was a marked pre-ponderance of moulds over dermatophytes in toe-nail infection than finger nails, while all candidal onychomycosis occurred in finger nails. Both hyphae and the arthrospores could be found easily in the fungus infected nails. The fungi penetrated the cornified cells forming irregular ragged passages. The structure of the nail plate was disturbed showing subungual hyperkeratosis and formation of deep processes containing fungi extending into the underlying tissue