Over 50 Million Suffer from Fungal Nail Infections

Thursday 11 April 2013, Amsterdam

Fungal  nail  infections  pose  a  global  health  threat,  with  over  50  million  people  suffering  from  the contagious condition last year, states a new report by research.

The new report predicts that prevalent cases of dermatophytic onychomycosis (DO) across US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan will increase by a further 15% over the next decade, from 51.50 million cases in 2012 to 59.17 million cases by 2022.

Epidemiologists forecast that the US alone will see prevalent cases of DO rise from 31.66 million cases in 2012 to 37.69 million cases by 2022, following a 19.1% increase over the next decade.

The prevalence of DO in the general population across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and theUK currently ranges from between 2% and 12%.

DO is a fungal infection of the nail fold or nail plate, beginning as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the nail, with discoloration and thickening of the nail worsening as the infection spreads deeper, resulting in nail disfigurement and discomfort. DO accounts for around half of all nail diseases in the world, and represents a considerable medical burden. The disease is not life-threatening, but can cause significant pain and discomfort, and the indolent nature of the disease often leads to cases going undiagnosed and untreated for a long period of time, potentially progressing to the point where walking may become difficult or painful.

The contagious nature of this condition means that DO is often contracted through contact with a contaminated surface. Fungal spores shed by infected individuals are commonly found on household floors, public swimming pools, and gym and sports changing facilities. For this reason, members of the same household have a greater risk of contracting the infection, and Japan’s high forecast for DO prevalence could be attributed to the country’s traditional practice of walking barefoot in the house, as this practice facilitates spread of DO infection.

Immunosuppressed individuals, such as those suffering from HIV infection, diabetes, or cancer, are more susceptible to DO. The risk of contracting DO also becomes more common with advancing age, with disease prevalence being almost tripled in individuals over 50 years of age, perhaps due to their immune system naturally weakening.

Diabetic individuals are particularly predisposed to developing DO, as impaired sensation caused by neuropathy may make individuals less aware of abrasions on their feet, which can easily become a portal of entry for bacterial infections. Poor glycemic control and vascular insufficiency suffered by diabetics also commonly lead to skin infections.

Conversely, healthy athletes also face a high risk of contracting the disease, as airtight sports shoes and sweating feet make the ideal breeding ground for fungal infection. Men are also 30% more likely to be infected with DO than women, possibly due to behavioral factors such as higher rates of trauma to thenails of the hands or feet, as a result of physical activity.