[Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of onychomycosis]

Onychomycosis is a common infectious disease. The diagnosis always requires proof of the presence of fungi by culture. Nail psoriasis and onychodystrophy of another origin are clinically very similar to onychomycosis. There is a choice of topical and systemic antimycotics available for treatment. The modern antimycotic nail lacquars are well suited for the treatment of distal onychomycosis. If more than 2/3 of the nail plate and/or the nail matrix are infected, the treatment must be systemic. There is a choice of griseofulvin, terbinafine and itraconazole.