Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Plant Medicine Has Antimicrobial Activity On Nail Fungus

Nail fungus is a common infection of the fingernails and toenails caused by unexceptionally ripening skin fungi. Mechanical pressure and stirring a get moving age make chum around with annoy nails more inclined fro larva. Not peerless does the talon become abed, but be imparted to murder nail bed secondary to the extrinsic is also distressed. Involved nails are ever after disfigured and discolored as a deliberation. The poor appearance of these nails causes distinguishable kinsmen encircling aspiration treatment.

Because fungi are responsible for only about one half of nail dystrophy, the diagnosis of nail fungus needs to be confirmed by potassium hydroxide preparation, culture or histology. Psoriasis, lichen planus, contact dermatitis, trauma, nail bed tumor and yellow nail syndrome may be mistakenly diagnosed as nail fungus. A fungal etiology is unlikely if all fingernail or toenails are dystrophic.

The technique used to collect specimens depends on the site of the infection. In distal subungual nail fungus, the concentration of fungus is greatest in the nail bed. Therefore, the nail should be clipped short, and a small curette or number-15 scalpel blade should be used to obtain a specimen from the nail bed as close to the cuticle as possible. A specimen should also be taken from the underside of the nail plate.

In white superficial nail fungus, a number-15 blade or curette can be used to scrape the nail surface or the white area, and remove infected debris. In proximal superficial nail fungus, the healthy nail plate should be gently pared away with a number-15 scalpel blade. A sharp curette can be used to remove material from the infected proximal nail bed as close to the lunula as possible. In candidal nail fungus, infected material should be collected from the proximal and lateral nail edges.

Current evidence supports the use of the newer agents as part of individualized treatment plans that consider patient profiles, nail characteristics, infecting organisms, potential drug toxicities and interactions, and adjuvant treatments. Triazole and allylamine antifungal drugs have largely replaced griseofulvin and ketoconazole as first-line medications in the treatment of nail fungus. These agents offer shorter treatment courses, higher cure rates and fewer relapses.

Of the newer drugs, terbinafine and itraconazole are the most widely used, with fluconazole rapidly gaining acceptance. These medications share characteristics that enhance their effectiveness: prompt penetration of the nail and nail bed, persistence in the nail for months after discontinuation of therapy and generally good safety profiles. Published studies measuring mycologic cure and clinical cure have demonstrated the effectiveness of all three medications.

Several measures may be helpful in managing unsuccessful treatment or relapse. The first step is to confirm mycology. If the initial diagnosis was based on a potassium hydroxide preparation alone, culture of properly collected specimens is mandatory. Culture reports identify multiple organisms, and treatment should be directed at the organisms most likely to be causative. There has been some concern about evolving drug resistance among fungal pathogens.

Nail fungus is expensive to treat. Costs include medications, procedures, laboratory tests and health care providers' time, as well as expenses associated with the management of adverse drug effects and treatment failures. Many people don't have health insurance and taking medicine for some common diseases is a major economic burden for them. For nail fungus, it is the most economical choice to take plant medicine.

The health care system of America has many drawbacks; the health care costs rise year after year; the economic burden is too high; additionally, western medicine and synthetic drugs are not a panacea and can not meet the requirements of the people. All these factors encourage them to find a new way. Plant medicines have significant effect with little side effect and thus are very popular.

It's a new social fashion that you should put emphasis on physical health and often take a variety of health medicines such as vitamine, mineral, and plant medicine. Recently, people gradually tend to self-treatment and do not want to rely entirely on the treatment from doctors. The higher level of education, the more strongly this idea. Plant medicine is free to buy and take, thus fully meeting the requirements of public self-treatment. To learn more, please go to naturespharma.org.