ABSTRACT
Onychomycosis is the fungal infection of the nail unit by dermatophytes, yeasts and nondermatophyte molds. It is a common disorder and poses many challenges to both patients and physicians. It can be hard to manage due to diffi culty in diagnosis, long treatment periods, potential side effects of systemic medications, drug-drug interactions and frequent recurrences. Onychomycosis is not just a cosmetic problem, but is an important medical condition that may be progressive and warrants therapy. The discovery of onychomycosis as a medical condition dates back to the 19thcentury. In 1853, Meissner, a German medical student, fi rst described and reported this condition (Haas and Sperl 2001). Until modern times, Trichophyton rubrum was found only in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Northern Australia and West Africa. While there were reports of chronic tinea corporis in this region, tinea pedis was not found until the arrival of European colonists and soldiers, who wore occlusive footwear, creating a favorable environment for T. rubrum (Rippon 1988).
