Nail Fungus

[9848]

Dr.,

A family member has been diagnosed with nail fungus (yellow, brittle nails etc.).  They are using a topical medication that does not seem to work and will be going to the doctor to see if other medications would work.  How contagious is this to other members of the family?  We share the same shower, and walk barefoot inside the house.

If this is contagious, what precautions can other members of the family take to prevent getting the fungus?

Thank-you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Topical medications don;t work for fungus--pills are necessary.  However, not all yellow, brittle nails are actually fungus, a clear diagnosis by someone familiar with fungus is a must.  If it is fungus, treatment with safe oral medication (Lamisil) is available.

Even if it is fungus, fungus is not very contagious, and most of the time family members don't get it, so I usually do not advise environmental precautions.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[FredZ]

Not very contagious. Keep them clean and dry and avoid injury/trauma to the nails to avoid infection. I have several toenails infected for 20 yrs and others on same foot not infected. Not a good idea to walk barefoot, even in your own house.

My $0.02

[9848]

Thanks Dr. and FredZ!!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I agree with FredZ, but not about the barefoot thing--that's folklore, and makes life unnecessarily difficult.

Dr. Rockoff

[hyepod]

Hi Doc (and Dec25)...I'm a podiatrist, and I have to share this.  Most of my patients are very poor.  Many have Medicaid only.  In my state, I think that Medicaid does not cover Lamisil tabs.  Several patients desperately begged me for something for their fungal nails.  Years ago, two medical assistants at a different clinic swore to me that Lamisil cream cured their fungal nails.  Of course I did not believe them.  In any case, with this in mind, I decided to prescribe Lamisil cream to my current patients.  Since I found that Medicaid does not pay for Lamisil cream either, I prescribed clotrimazole cream.  One patient returned to see me once a month for approx. 11 months.  I can't explain it, but each month, I could see a distinct line of demarcation between the old fungal portion of the nails, and the fresh, new, healthy portion that was growing out.  Believe it or not, his fungal toenail problem had completely resolved in 10-11 months.  I've seen similar results in several more patients, although the degree of "normalcy" varied.