Blistering Disorders of the Foot.

ABSTRACT: Multiple pathophysiologic and biomolecular processes lead to bullae, including disruption of adhesion molecules, accumulation of cell injury, and traumatic injury. Blistering disorders of the foot can cause symptoms such as pruritus, pain, and drainage and significantly impact quality of life. Microbiologic and histopathologic examination of tissue specimens should be considered for concerns regarding atypical etiology.This retrospective case series describes patients seen in a community hospital outpatient wound center in southeastern Wisconsin between January 2021 and June 2023 for atypical blistering disorders of the foot. The cases herein describe the history, clinical presentation, and treatment of three atypical blistering disorders of the foot. An 86-year-old man presented complaining of intensely pruritic blistering lesions to both feet. Histopathologic findings indicated eosinophilic infiltrate, and the patient was treated for an eosinophilic drug reaction. A 65-year-old man presented complaining of multiple painful blisters to the plantar aspect of both feet. Histopathologic examination of unroofed blister indicated bullous tinea. Finally, a 44-year-old man with long-standing type 1 diabetes presented complaining of a several-week history of a single blister to his anterior right foot of unknown etiology. The patient was diagnosed with bullosis diabeticorum.Blistering disorders of the foot are diagnostic challenges; diagnostic clarity is assisted by thorough history, clinical presentation, treatment response, microbial analysis, and histopathologic findings.

Dermatophytomas in Onychomycosis: A Scoping Review of Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytoma, also described as a longitudinal streak/spike, is a form of onychomycosis that presents as yellow/white streaks or patches in the subungual space, with dense fungal masses encased in biofilm. This scoping review of the literature was conducted to address a general lack of information about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of dermatophytomas in onychomycosis. METHODS: A search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases for the terms "longitudinal spike" or "dermatophytoma." Outcomes of interest were definition, prevalence, methods used for diagnosis, treatments, and treatment efficacy. Inclusion and exclusion of search results required agreement between two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Of a total of 51 records, 37 were included. Two reports provided the first unique definitions/clinical features of dermatophytomas. Overall, many descriptions were found, but one conclusive definition was lacking. Prevalence data were limited and inconsistent. The most frequently mentioned diagnostic techniques were clinical assessment, potassium hydroxide/microscopy, and fungal culture/mycology. Oral terbinafine and topical efinaconazole 10% were the most frequently mentioned treatments, followed by topical luliconazole 5% and other oral treatments (itraconazole, fluconazole, fosravuconazole). In studies with five or more patients without nail excision, cure rates were highest with efinaconazole 10%, which ranged from 41% to 100% depending on the clinical and/or mycologic assessment evaluated. Other drugs with greater than or equal to 50% cure rates were topical luliconazole 5% (50%), oral fosravuconazole (57%), and oral terbinafine (67%). In studies that combined oral terbinafine treatment with nail excision using surgical or chemical (40% urea) methods, cure rates ranged from 50% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: There is little published information regarding dermatophytomas in onychomycosis. More clinical research and physician education are needed. Although dermatophytomas have historically been considered difficult to treat, the efficacy data gathered in this scoping review have demonstrated that newer topical treatments are effective, as are oral antifungals in combination with chemical or surgical methods.

Onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, and the most common nail infection worldwide, causing discoloration and thickening of the nail plate. It is predominantly caused by dermatophytes. Clinical presentation is polymorphous. Diagnosis must be confirmed by mycological examination before initiating any therapy. Management is an ongoing challenge, often requiring several months' treatment, with a high risk of recurrence. Treatment must be adapted to clinical presentation and severity and to the patient's history and wishes. Debridement of all infected keratin is the first step, reducing fungal load. Systemic treatments are more effective than topical treatments, and combining the two increases the cure rate. Terbinafine is the drug of choice for dermatophyte onychomycosis, due to low drug interaction and good cost-effectiveness. Itraconazole and fluconazole are broad-spectrum antifungals that are effective against dermatophytes, yeasts, and some non-dermatophytic molds. Recurrence rates for onychomycosis are high. Prophylactic application of topicals and avoiding walking barefoot in public places may help prevent recurence.

The association of fractional CO2 laser 10.600nm and photodynamic therapy in the treatment of onychomycosis

AbstractBACKGROUND:Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails caused in most cases by dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Despite numerous available antifungal drugs for therapy of this infection, the cure rate is low, with high rates of relapse after treatment and side effects.OBJECTIVES:To present a new option for the treatment of onychomycosis, in search of a more effective and rapid method than conventional ones.METHODS:Patients underwent two sessions of CO2 fractional laser 10.600nm associated with photodynamic therapy. Mycological and digital photography were performed before and after the treatment.RESULTS:McNemar test with continuity correction and degrees of freedom = 1: for clinical cure rate, 13.06, with p=0.00005; for mycological cure, 17.05, with p=0.00005; 72% felt fully satisfied with the procedure.CONCLUSIONS:The use of fractional CO2 laser 10.600nm associated with photodynamic therapy can be effective in the treatment of onychomycosis, decreasing the risk of systemic lesions that may be triggered with prolonged use of oral antifungals.

Utilização do Chong Mai no tratamento de onicomicose de hálux: um estudo de caso / The Chong Mai use in the treatment of onychomycosis in the hallux

Este trabalho caracterizou-se por um estudo de caso, no qual pudemos verificar a aplicabilidade do vaso extraordinário Chong Mai no tratamento da onicomicose no hálux. Embora as alterações ungueais não caracterizassem a queixa principal da paciente fomos motivados pela oportunidade de testar esta aplicabilidade. O tratamento acupuntural foi realizado por um período de quatro meses no qual foi possível verificar uma significativa melhora, não só dos sintomas que caracterizavam sua queixa principal, mas acima de tudo da aparência da unha do hálux.(AU)

This study was characterized by a case study in which we could verify the applicability of the extraordinary vessel Chong Mai in the treatment of onychomycosis of the hallux. White nail changes do not charaterize the main complaint of the patient were motivated by the opportunity to test this applicability. Acupunctural treatment was carried out for a period of four months in which we observed significant improvement, not only of the symptoms that was charaterized as their main complaint, but above all the appearance of the nail of the hallux.(AU)

An observational and descriptive study of the epidemiology of and therapeutic approach to onychomycosis in dermatology offices in Brazil / Estudo obervacional descritivo da epidemiologia e abordagem terapêutica da onicomicose nos consultórios dermatológicos no Brasil

Onychomycosis is a type of fungal infection that accounts for over 50% of all onycopathies. Some authors consider superficial mycosis the most difficult to be treated. Very few studies have been carried out in order to assess the epidemiology of onychomycosis in Brazil. To describe the epidemiological profile of onychomycosis in Brazilian dermatology offices and to assess the etiology of the disease, how often mycosis exams are requested, and the treatment adopted. A descriptive, observational study was carried out between May and July, 2010. Thirty-eight dermatologists from different Brazilian regions participated in the study, and 7,852 patients with any skin diseases who had all of their nails examined were included in the study. Of the 7,852 patients, 28.3% were clinically diagnosed as having onychomycosis. Women over 45 years old who practiced exercises or with a personal history of the disease showed greater likelihood of having onychomycosis. The disease was most seen in the feet, and the majority of cases involved the hallux. On the hands, the index finger was the most affected. Mycosis exams were not requested for all clinically suspected cases. When exams were done, results showed that the most common fungus was Trichophyton rubrum. The most common clinical lesion was distal-lateral. The most prescribed topical treatments were amorolfine and ciclopirox olamine, while systemic treatments included fluconazole and terbinafine. This study was important to describe the epidemiological behavior of onychomycosis in Brazilian ...

Fundamentos: As onicomicoses são infecções fúngicas que representam mais de 50% de todas onicopatias e são consideradas por alguns autores a micose superficial de mais difícil tratamento. Poucos estudos foram feitos para investigar a epidemiologia da onicomicose no Brasil. Descrever perfil epidemiológico da onicomicose nos consultórios brasileiros de dermatologia. Também observar a etiologia, a freqüência da solicitação do exame micológico e a terapia empregada. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e observacional no período de Maio a Julho de 2010. Participaram 38 dermatologistas de diferentes regiões do Brasil e foram incluídos 7852 pacientes. Dos 7852 pacientes, 28.3% apresentaram diagnóstico de onicomicose. Mulheres, maiores de 45 anos, praticantes de esportes, ou com histórico pessoal da doença, apresentaram chance maior de adquirir onicomicose. A doença foi mais frequente nos pés, sendo o hálux, o dedo mais acometido. Nas mãos, o primeiro dedo foi o mais atingido. Exame micológico não foi solicitado para todos os casos. Quando realizado, o fungo mais freqüente foi o Trichophyton rubrum. A lesão clinica mais comum foi a distal-lateral. Os tratamentos tópicos mais prescritos foram amorolfina e ciclopirox olamina, enquanto os sistêmicos foram o fluconazol e a terbinafina. Este estudo foi de fundamental importância para descrever o comportamento epidemiológico ...

Tungíase disseminada / Disseminated tungiasis

A tungíase é uma infestação zooantropofílica causada pela Tunga penetrans. É endêmica na América Latina e no Caribe. Ocorre, principalmente, em comunidades carentes e sem saneamento básico e em indivíduos que visitam áreas contaminadas. O local mais comum de penetração do ectoparasita é a região periungueal dos pés. Os autores mostram a ocorrência de uma forma disseminada num habitante da zona rural.

Tungiasis is a zoophilic and anthropophilic infestation caused by Tunga penetrans. It is endemic in Latin America and in the Caribbean. It occurs mainly in impoverished communities that have no access to basic sanitation and in individuals that visit contaminated areas. The most common penetration site of this ectoparasite is the periungueal region of the feet. The authors present its disseminated form occurring in a patient inhabiting a rural area.

Diabetic foot infection

A infecçäo dos pés é um dos principais e mais comuns problemas da diabetes mellitus. Cerca de 25 por cento dos pacientes sofrem deste mal durante a vida. Esta crônica e comprometedora complicaçäo da diabetes mellitus causa considerável sofrimento, mudanças no estilo e qualidade de vida do paciente, impedimento de suas funçöes normais, morbidade e, finalmente, em alguns casos, amputaçäo. Medidas terapêuticas correntes, juntamente com o manuseio adequado de todos os fatores de risco fisiopatológicos e complicaçöes, auxiliaräo a reduzir a taxa de incidência de infecçäo do pé diabético, assim como os custos de tratamento, hospitalizaçäo e amputaçäo, além de diminuir o sofrimento do paciente e produzir a melhoria de suas condiçöes gerais

Geriatric nail disorders: diagnosis and treatment

Age-associated nail changes and disorders are common in elderly patients. Characteristic changes in color, contour, growth, surface, thickness, and histology occur in the nail unit as persons become older. Several onychodystrophies are frequently observed in these elderly patients: brittle nails, those induced by faulty biomechanics and trauma, infections, onychauxis, onychoclavus, onychogryphosis, onychophosis, splinter hemorrhages and subungual hematomas, and subungual exostosis. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of the aging nail will enable better assessment and management of the onychologic concerns of this group of older patients.