Onychomycosis secondary prevention

Effective measures for the secondary prevention of onychomycosis include patient education about the disease course and adherence to the treatment .

Several factors have been suggested to play a role in the high incidence of recurrence.^[1]

• Family history of onychomycosis
• Tinea pedis in family members
• Wearing occlusive footwear
• Moist environments such as swimming pools
• Comorbidities of patients like diabetes mellitus or severe onychomycosis
• Therapy choice, duration, treatment success
• Non compliance to the treatment
• Resistance of the infecting fungus
• Nail injuries

Steps that can prevent disease recurrence

• Patient education to recognize early signs of disease recurrence
• Adherence to the treatment
• Keeping feet cool and dry
• Avoiding going barefoot in public places
• Topical antifungal prophylaxis
• Prompt treatment of any tinea pedis, including that of family members