Yellow nail syndrome in a medical clinic

Yellow nail syndrome is a very rare clinical entity usually diagnosed from a combination of yellow dystrophic nails, lymphoedema and respiratory diseases. The aetiology is not known though dysfunctional hypoplastic lymphatics is speculated. Most cases occur sporadically but few cases may be associated with systemic diseases or may be inherited. This report documents another case in a 56-year old Caribbean female who presented with a six-year history of recurrent respiratory symptoms and later yellow dystrophic nails and lymphoedema. She responded well to vitamin E and oral fluconazole. We also did a short literature review of yellow nail syndrome.