ABSTRACT
It is important to treat symptomatic tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Untreated tinea pedis may lead to severe reactive inflammation with painful fissuring of the feet and toes. Occasionally, generalized ‘autosensitization’ eruptions occur in response to persistent focal fungal skin disease. Onychomycosis may be asymptomatic and no more than an ‘aesthetic compromise’ in its early stages. However, progression of the disease frequently leads to complications such as ingrowing toenail and the painful nail plate deformities of onychogryphosis and pincer or trumpet nail. Studies of onychogryphosis in the elderly show that many such patients had untreated onychomycosis at a younger age. The initial capital cost of successfully treating onychomycosis is therefore fully justified.
