A Case of Onychomadesis after Recovering from Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

ABSTRACT

Onychomadesis is characterized by proximal nail plate separation from the nail matrix and nail bed. It has been associated with autoimmune disease, medications, severe systemic diseases, trauma, periungual dermatitis, nutritional deficiency, and infection. Hand-foot-mouth disease is most frequently caused by coxsackievirus A16 and is associated with a number of other coxsackieviruses and enterovirus 71. It particularly affects children under 5 years of age and is characterized by vesicular eruptions on the hands, feet, and buttocks and ulcerations of the tongue, soft palate, buccal mucosa, or gingiva. Onychomadesis after recovering from hand-foot-mouth disease is a rare and late complication. It occurs several weeks after the onset of hand-foot-mouth disease. The mechanism is still unknown. Generally, there is no need for treatment and there is spontaneous resolution within 1 to 2 months.