Treatment of Fungal Diseases

Treatment of fungal diseases

Treatment of fungal diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist. In the case of self-medication, incorrectly selected antifungal agents can only lead to temporary improvement without curing the disease itself. When choosing a treatment method, it is necessary to take into account the area and shape of the lesion, the degree of prevalence of the fungus, the presence of concomitant diseases, and the age of the patient.

Antifungal drugs are divided into two types: for external and internal use. External remedies themselves are effective only in the early stages of the disease, then treatment must be comprehensive: the fungus must be affected from the inside. For successful and safe treatment of fungal diseases with internal antifungal drugs, it is advisable to adhere to certain rules.

First of all, the diagnosis must be reliable. Therapy cannot be prescribed if the doctor has not confirmed the presence of a fungal infection. During treatment with internal antifungal drugs, it is advisable to limit the intake of other medications, with the exception of vital ones. Medicines should be used under the supervision of a physician for a long time until the fungus completely disappears.

Control examinations must be carried out for the first time after 2 weeks, then once a month. Control scraping - 6 months after the end of treatment. Identification of fungi serves as an indication for a second course of treatment. Currently, dermatologists consider pulse therapy to be the most effective and safe method - taking medication at long intervals.

During a week of taking the drug, it accumulates in the body, which allows the next three weeks to rest from treatment, while the medicine continues to actively fight the infection. The usual course of pulse therapy lasts three months, but even after its completion, the medicine fights the infection for another year and prevents the fungus from reappearing, so it has no chance. This unique technique makes it possible to make treatment as convenient and safe as possible, and to avoid relapses.

When nail plates are damaged, external antifungal agents are ineffective. Treatment with antifungal ointments, creams, solutions, and varnishes must necessarily be preceded by removal of the affected area of ​​the nail mechanically or using keratolytic patches.

Mechanical removal consists of filing or cutting off the affected fragments of the nail plate with pliers. The use of keratolytic patches allows you to soften the nail, as a result of which it is easily and painlessly removed from the surface of the nail bed using a blunt scalpel or scissors. A special softening ointment is applied to the surface of the nail and covered with an adhesive plaster and bandage. After a day, the affected areas are cleaned. The procedures are performed daily until the affected nails are completely removed.

During and after treating a fungal infection, it is very important to disinfect everything that the fungus has come into contact with. Floors, walls, equipment in baths, showers, bathrooms, as well as the patient’s personal belongings: underwear, shoes, skin and nail care items should be disinfected.

The walls and bottom of the bath should be treated with a mixture of equal parts of washing powder and bleach or chloramine, diluted to a creamy consistency (the powder should be washed off after 30 minutes). You can also use a 5% solution of chloramine or bleach, or a 3% solution of Lysol.

It is recommended to treat shoes with solutions of formaldehyde (25%) or acetic acid (40%). You should thoroughly wipe the insoles and side areas of the shoes with a moistened swab. Then place the tampon in the toe of the shoe, and place the shoe itself in a hermetically sealed plastic bag for 24 hours. After using acetic acid or a 25% formaldehyde solution, the shoes are ventilated or wiped with ammonia to eliminate the odor. The entire procedure can take from 12 to 24 hours.

Underwear, stockings, socks, tights can be disinfected by 15-20 minutes