[Onychomadesis associated with mouth, hand and foot disease]

Onychomadesis is the spontaneous, complete shedding of the nail from its proximal side, without pain or inflammation, following nail matrix arrest. This disorder is uncommon in children and it can occur in fingernails, toenails or both. It may be secondary to systemic disorders, Kawasaki disease, bullous dermatoses, drugs, paronychia, stress and radiotherapy. Since 2000, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) has been described as a cause of onychomadesis, and has been associated with outbreaks of this condition in different regions of the world. HFMD is an infection characterized by vesicular and erosive stomatitis in combination with a vesicular eruption in palms and soles. It occurs in small children during summer and autumn months, and it is caused by coxsackie virus. We present a study that reflects the current situation of onychomadesis in Argentinian children and shows a strong association between this disorder and HFMD, suggesting that onychomadesis is a new manifestation of a previously known disease.