Nail Society of India (NSI) recommendations for pharmacologic therapy of onychomycosis

Abstract

Onychomycosis (OM) is the commonest cause of dystrophic nails, responsible for upto 50% of cases. Apart from significantly damaging the nails, quality of life, and self.image of the sufferer, it also acts as a reservoir of fungal infections carrying important implications for emerging recalcitrant dermatophytoses. Treatment of OM is based on guidelines released almost a decade back, in addition to published literature and personal preferences. Hence, an expert group of nail society of India (NSI) worked towards drafting these guidelines aimed at compiling recommendations for pharmacologic treatment of OM, based on scientific evidence, along with practical experience. The group did an extensive analysis of available English language literature on OM published during the period 2014.2022. The evidence compiled was graded and discussed to derive consensus recommendations for practice. Special focus was placed on combination therapies and adjunct therapies, including experience of members, to improve treatment outcomes.

Keywords

• antifungal
• grade of recommendation
• itraconazole
• level of evidence
• onychomycosis
• terbinafine
• tinea unguium