Nail Diseases

This page was created for educational purposes only. If you suspect you have a nail infection or disease, please see your physician as soon as possible.

Paranychia- The nail disease paronychia is an often tender bacterial or fungal infection where the nail and skin meet. It can start suddenly (acute paronychia) or gradually (chronic paronychia). Pus is usually present, along with gradual thickening and browning discoloration of the nail plate. Common causes are sharing of nail implements that are not sanitary or have not been disinfected. Do not share even a nail buffer or file with anyone period. This infection requires an anti-biotic to cure.

Fungus- Nail fungus is made up of tiny organisms (Tinea Unguium) that can infect fingernails and toenails. The nails of our fingers and toes are very effective barriers. This barrier makes it quite difficult for a superficial infection to invade the nail. Once an infection has set up residence however, the same barrier that was so effective in protecting us against infection now works against us, making it difficult to treat the infection. Fungal infections of the fingernails are more common in men; fungal infections of the toenails are more common in women. The organisms can sometimes spread from one person to another because these critters can live where the air is often moist and people’s feet are bare. This can happen in places like shower stalls, bathrooms, or locker rooms or it can be passed around on a nail file or emery board. So, don’t share them. Nail fungus may also spread from one of your nails to other nails. Internal and external medications are usually required to cure this. In rare instances, your doctor will have to remove the whole nail affected.

Onycholysis- Onycholysis is the painless separation of the nail from the nail bed. This is a common problem. It can be a sign of skin disease, an infection or the result of injury. It is frequently associated with trauma or nail fungi. No matter what the cause, usually several nails are affected. Infection with bacteria and yeast starts to occur in the space under the nail. For treatment all of the unattached nail must be clipped off. The hand should be kept out of water as much as possible. Use gloves when cleaning and washing. It is very important to avoid mechanical cleaning under nails. One should not bandage or cover the cut nails. Additional medications by mouth may be needed in some cases.

Clip the affected portion of the nail, and keep the nails short.

Avoid injuring the affected nail, and keep the nail bed dry.

Beau's Lines- Beau's lines are deep grooved lines that run from side to side on the fingernail. They may look like indentations or ridges in the nail plate. People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds can have Beau lines. There are several reasons that humans get Beau's lines.Some common reasons for these lines include: trauma, illness, malnutrition, coronary occlusion, hypocalcaemia, skin disease and may be a sign of a metabolic condition or systemic disease. It may also be caused by an illness of the body, such as diabetes, certain drugs, such as those used in chemotherapy or even malnutrition.

Pseudomonas- Pseudomonas, also known as the “Green nails”, is a bacterial infection that occurs between the nail plate and the nail bed.
The green coloring of the bacteria that can be seen on the nails is a result of the infection, and comes from iron compounds. Pseudomonas thrives in moist places, so it can spread in the nail plate if the nail has been lifted. If left on its own, it will take two to three months for it to go away on its own. The main cause of the infection is when the nail plate is not cleansed properly, or germs that have spread from a dirty nail file. Nail files used in beauty salons should be sanitized, as germs can spread from one hand to the other. Sanitation and cleansing of nail products are the most preventive way against the spreading of pseudomonas. The cleanliness of the nails and prevention of pseudomonas is very important, because if the bacterium reaches the blood stream, bone, or root of the nail, there is no other way to stop it but to amputate the finger. Prevention is the best medicine against pseudomonas.

7 Germs that kill

Germs may be too small to see, but don't let their size fool you: Certain bacteria and molds are terrifying, causing more than 100,000 American deaths each year. To make matters worse, these microorganisms tend to mutate, becoming impervious to the drugs we've developed to defeat them. How can you spot killer germs before they colonize, invade, and multiply? Read on as we reveal the seven scariest germs,and what you can do to protect yourself.

Deadly Microbes

According to the Infectious Diseases Society, these potentially lethal microbes have exhibited the most harmful drug resistance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Because it rarely causes disease in healthy people, but instead infects those who are already sick or have weakened immune systems, P. aeruginosa is called an opportunistic pathogen.

These dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are often spread between medical equipment, sinks, and even food, so hospital patients are a high-risk group. And infection can occur in several sites throughout the body, including the heart and blood, bones and joints, central nervous system, eyes and ears, urinary tract, lungs, and skin.

Fortunately, most hospitals have programs in place for the prevention of nosocomial diseases (infections contracted by patients while under medical care).

Klebsiella. Regularly found in the human respiratory, intestinal, and urinogenital tracts, Klebsiella are especially important for healthy bowel function. But when they travel outside their normal stomping grounds, serious infection can occur.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Klebsiella infections most commonly occur in people with weakened immune systems and underlying diseases, as well as hospital patients. Some of the most common hospital-acquired infections caused by Klebsiella include surgical wound infections and infections of the blood, and if not treated early enough, both can progress to shock, or even death.

Transmission of Klebsiella infections can be reduced through strict adherence to hospital protocol, including frequent hand-washing.

E. Coli. Commonly found in the lower intestine of humans and other animals, most E. coli strains are harmless, but certain strains, such as O157:H7, can cause life-threatening conditions such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (often requiring a blood transfusion and kidney dialysis), especially in young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.

The O157:H7 strain is linked to the 2006 E. coli outbreak of fresh spinach in the United States.

Fortunately, the likelihood of O157:H7 transmission can be reduced by carefully cleaning fruits and vegetables, thoroughly cooking meat, and washing your hands after using the bathroom.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). Enterococci are bacteria normally present in the human intestines and female genital tract.

Typically not dangerous for healthy people with strong immune systems, certain antibiotic-resistant enterococci (like VRE) can cause life-threatening infections in those with compromised immune systems-specifically the very young, very old, and very ill. To date, hospitals are the most documented source of VRE in the United States, according to the CDC.

Careful hygiene is an important part of avoiding transmission of VRE, especially if you're a home caregiver. The CDC recommends washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom, handling soiled clothing, or preparing food.

Drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Resilient spherical microbes that colonize the skin or nostrils of about 20 to 30 percent of the world's population, staph bacteria can also survive for a considerable amount of time on static surfaces, especially in warm and moist areas.

The bacteria are often spread through skin contact and are harmless until they enter the bloodstream. Then they can cause infections as deadly as pneumonia, meningitis, or septicemia.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant forms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphlyococcous aureus (MRSA), which can be treated with vancomycin, though recent strains that are less responsive to that antibiotic have surfaced.

To protect yourself against MRSA, which causes 19,000 deaths annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wash your hands frequently, use antibiotics properly, avoid sharing items that come in contact with the skin, and keep wounds clean and covered.

Aspergillus. This mold, which plays a crucial role in the breakdown of organic matter, is almost everywhere, and therefore, unavoidable.

Most types are harmless, but for people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases, certain specimens of Aspergillus can cause aspergillosis, a group of infections that can be deadly. In 50 to 90 percent of cases involving invasive aspergillosis (the most severe form), the outcome is death, especially if the illness develops drug resistance and the patient suffers from another disease such as AIDS or cancer.

Fortunately, a medical breakthrough came in 2005 when British researchers were able to decipher Aspergillus's genetic code, which will potentially lead to more effective treatments.

Acinetobacter baumannii. Because it's extremely drug-resistant and able to exist at numerous temperatures and pH levels, this bacterium poses a palpable threat in hospitals, where a majority of the people affected contract the bug.

As with Aspergillus and MRSA, A. baumanni is especially dangerous to people who are already ill. Causing pneumonia, meningitis, and blood and wound infections, it has a mortality rate as high as 75 percent.

A. baumannii infections are often treated with polymyxins or imipenem, an antibiotic that carries a risk of seizures.

*** Article link : http://www.qualityhealth.com/colds-infections-articles/7-germs-kill

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Deadly Microbes