Determination of possible risk factors related to onychomycosis in patients with onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail that included 18%-20% of nail infections and approximately 30% of all skin fungal infections. This infection is occurred as a result of fungus penetration to the nail plate, and dermatophyte infection of the nail called tinea ungium. Dermatophytes are the main factors of onychomycosis. Age, sex, diabetes, nail trauma, disruption of blood flowing to the fingers, warm and humid climate, excessive sweating, poor hygiene, and immunocompromised condition in subjects, are predisposing factors for infection development. The aim of this study was to identify and determinate of possible risk factors related to onychomycosis in patients with onychomycosis referred to mycology laboratory in Tehran. Questions related to signs, symptoms and possible risk factors associated with onychomycosis were completed by 180 patients with onychomycosis referred to mycology laboratory in Tehran in 2014-2015. We were used the information from the questionnaires and the results of mycological examination to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for several factors that might be associated with onychomycosis. from 180 referred patients, 118 (65.56%) had onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes and saprophytes that 62 cases (34.4%) of them were female and 56 cases (31.1%) were male. from 118 patients with onychomycosis, 79 (66.9%) and 39 (33.05%) cases were positive for infection with dermatophytes and Saprophytes, respectively. A history of the following factors more than doubled the risk of onychomycosis: Diabetes (OR 5.77; 95% CI 2.0614 to 16.1940), psoriasis (OR 4.2045; 95% CI 1.0386 to 17.0214), organs transparent (OR 4.8125; 95% CI 0.7590 to 30.5140), Thyroid Disorders (OR 2.7652; 95% CI 0.7696 to 9.9353), and cardiovascular disorder (OR 0.9744; 95% CI 0.0970 to 9.7829). Knowledge about risk factors associated with onychomycosis is important very for treating and educating of the patients with onychomycosis.

Keywords:

Risk factors , onychomycosis , tinea ungium , Iran