Fungal infection of nails or onychomycosis is non-life threatening disease commonly caused by dermatophytes. The infection is also caused by non dermatophytes like yeasts and non dermatophytic moulds. There are various factors which play an important role in causation of onychomycosis. These predisposing factors are aging, fall in the immune status, diabetes, immunosuppressive therapy for cancer and organ transplantation, HIV, long term antibiotics, occlusive footwear, immune deficiency diseases and occupations involving continuous contact with water, for instance swimmers, fishermen, clothes and dish washers. Climatic conditions also play an important role in the causation of onychomycosis. The present study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital for a period of 8 months. The aim of the study was to determine various predisposing factors and causative agents of onychomycosis. The sample was placed in a sterile petridish and transported to microbiology laboratory. | A prospective study on the epidemiology of onychomycosis in tertiary care hospital
