Epidemiology of Onychomycosis in Pernambuco, Northeastern of Brazil: Results of a Laboratory-Based Survey

Abstract

IntroductionOnychomycosis is a disease that affects the finger and toenails, of both men and women, but is infrequently found in children. The etiological agents are yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi (NDFF). In recent decades the number of cases of onychomycosis has been rising, due to population growth and extensive therapies with antibiotics and corticoids [1][2][3]. The clinical aspect of onychomycosis can vary among hyperkeratosis, change in nail color and distal detachment of the nail plate, and it can be misdiagnosed as other diseases, such as paronychia, psoriasis and lichen planus [4].