To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Terbinafine Kills Fungal Nail Infections, Prevents Reoccurrance In Most Patients URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1F69AE.htm Doctor's Guide March 29, 2001
BETHESDA, MD -- March 29, 2001 -- Fungal nails, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection and one of the most common nail disorders, accounting for approximately 50 percent of all toenail problems in the United States. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, (March 2001), there is new data supporting the effective use of the drug terbinafine for the treatment of fungal nails. The drug is proven to kill fungal nail infection and keep it from reoccurring 72 percent of the time. Fungal nails are characterized by a progressive change in a toenail's quality and color, which is often thick and painful. People who suffer from onychomycosis may be embarrassed about the appearance of their nails and avoid social interactions where their feet may be visible. If left untreated, a fungal nail infection can spread and possibly prevent a person from working or walking. This happens because the resulting thicker nails are difficult to trim and make walking painful when wearing shoes. The results of this study are especially important for people with diabetes who are more at risk for developing foot complications. According to the study's primary author, Richard Pollak, DPM, MS, of San Antonio, Texas, "diabetic patients with fungal nails are three times more likely to have serious foot problems such as bacterial infections, foot ulcers and amputations compared to diabetic patients who aren't affected by fungal nails. Clearly, treating the diabetic patient for onychomycosis is most important. This new treatment will decrease their chances of foot complications and not interfere with daily insulin injections." In the study, over 1,500 patients (77 diabetic patients) with fungal nails were given one 250-mg tablet of terbinafine, an antifungal drug that can be taken by mouth, once daily. Patients were divided into three treatments groups that were evaluated at 12, 18 and 24 weeks of continuous therapy with terbinafine. Treatment was continued for additional 6 or 12 weeks, depending on the extent of the infection. After the studies were completed, more than 80 percent of patients in each treatment group felt that the terbinafine treatment improved the quality of their lives. Patients were satisfied with how their toenails looked at the end of the study and more than 75 percent were satisfied with the aspects of the infection that had bothered them the most (walking pain, toe numbness, etc.). Doctors were able to conclude that terbinafine is a safe and effective treatment for onychomycosis. Follow up clinical visits were conducted a year and a half after patients were treated with terbinafine and the recurrence rates for fungal nails remained low for all three treatment groups. SOURCE: The American Podiatric Medical Association --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.