Abstract

Onychomycosis is the invasion of the healthy nail plate by species of dermatophytes, as well as a variety of non-dermatophytes (yeasts and moulds) which may cause nail infection, particularly after tissue damage by trauma or disease. Candida albicans and C. parapilosis are the most commonly isolated yeasts from abnormal toenails. The patient was a 20-year-old woman who presented with a thickened and crumbly nail plate of the right second finger for 4 months. Initially, a tiny yellowish macule appeared under the nail plate, which gradually involved the entire nail plate, resulting in complete deformity of the nail. She was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus 4 months ago and her blood

sugar level was controlled with subcutaneous insulin injections. Direct microscopic examination of the scrapings prepared with potassium hydroxide revealed fungal elements. Repeated cultures on Sabouraud dextrose agar showed cream to white colored, semi-glossy, flat colonies, which were findings consistent with C. albicans. Complete extraction of the involved nail with meticulous curettage of the nail bed was made. She has been taking 150 mg of oral fluconazole weekly since August 2003 and showed substantial improvement.

Keywords

Total dystrophic onychomycosis Candida albicans

KJMM 2004 June;9(2):112-116(5). Epub 2016 February 20
Copyright © 2004 by Korean Journal of Medical Mycology

Language

Korean/English

Author

Kyung Cho; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Eugene Jeong; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Hyun Jeong Park; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Shin Tack Oh; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Jun Young Lee; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Baik Kee Cho; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding

Hyun Jeong Park, Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. Tel: (02) 3779-1230, Fax: (02) 783-7604, e-mail: hjpark@catholic.ac.kr

Publication history

Acknowledgements

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Kyung Cho

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Eugene Jeong

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Hyun Jeong Park

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Shin Tack Oh

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Jun Young Lee

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Baik Kee Cho

Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Since epub date 2016 February 20