Although nail fungus normally affects adults over the age of 45, it is also not uncommon in children. It is estimated at least 3% of children in developed countries get infected with toenail fungus. Children who are at a higher risk of infection include those living with HIV and Down syndrome.
Toenail fungus in kids is often contracted from pools and springs. Grownups diagnosed with Trichophyton rubrum dermatophyte wade in the same waters.
Nail fungus is so contagious that sharing shoes is enough to transmit the infection right away. The incubation period is about 3 months, which means that kids could be passing the infection to others undetected for 3 months.
Conditions That Can Be Mistaken for Toenail Fungus
Medical professionals are alarmed at the number of children using treatments to treat toenail fungus. Of course, it turns out the kids did not have toenail fungus in the first place.
The effects of self-diagnosis end up being costly and exposing the kids to unnecessary side effects. And this is without treating the problem. Some of the common conditions that may be mistaken for toenail fungus in Kids include:
• Subungual tumors
Subungual tumors are common in children, featuring benign growths on bones. The signs of this condition include:
– Red, blue, or purple lesions under nails
– Nail bed separation
– Cold sensitivity
– Tenderness, and pain.
• Psoriasis
The symptoms of psoriasis include large, irregular pits and thickening & separation of the nail bed. In addition, white spots can be observed on the nail plate and red-orange oil drops under the nails. In severe cases, the nails can become brittle and crumble the same way it happens with fungal infection. Therefore, a nail biopsy is recommended in order to diagnose whether the problem is a case of nail fungus or psoriasis.
• Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a problem affecting about 4.5 million Americans. The signs of this condition are hair loss arising from the immune system attacking hair follicles. The nails may lose their luster and become pitted before other signs such as hair loss occur.
How to Prevent Toenail Fungus Infection in Kids
Toenail fungus in kids is a condition that recurs multiple times. This is because fungi reproduce by way of small spores that are easy to miss. Items like socks, towels, sheets and shoes need to be cleansed and sanitized thoroughly.
Using FDA-approved, podiatrist-recommended SteriShoe UV shoe-sanitizer can help. This uses germicidal UV light to kill fungi, viruses, bacteria and other microbes present in footwear.
Before giving a child any medication, it is important to seek the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner.
