Is there a fungus amoung us?

Question

I've been dating this guy a month. He is smart, funny, successful and I like spending time with him. No sex yet and am not sure if there will be unless I can resolve this issue: Recently I noticed a deformed fingernail on his right hand and asked him if he had injured himself. He said that he had hit it with a hammer and now there is a fungus on (in?) it. He then said that his all ten of his toes looked the same way; at one time he was playing a lot of racquet ball and played with such vigor that he had repeatedly rammed his feet into the wall and this was the result. He then said that he was going to begin taking Lamasil to treat it.
My questions are: How do I broach this issue tactfully? Is this contagious? Should I be concerned?

Answer 1

Love your question headline!

I'd ask him if he has gone to a doctor and if he is on an antibiotic, maybe bring it up when opening a bottle of wine and say you don't want booze to interact with his medication if he's on it for the toejam issue.

Not to alarm you, but isn't that fungus also athelete's foot which can also be jock itch? I'm with you, sister, I'd want to boil that mister if he's brimming with the creeping crud. Uck!

Answer 2

Well my advice is to look up different foot fungi on the internet. (I'm kinda too lazy to give you the websites, myself) Once you find a fungus that best describes your boyfriend's, tell him about it. If the research says that the fungus is contagious or extremely harmful in any way, talk to a doctor about it. Lamasil might not be the answer for the fungus and he shouldn't take it unless his doctor approves. Hope this helps :)

Answer 3

I don't think he has a problem but I think you do.How much do you care for this person don't seam like much.A we go threw life with our family or husband or wife or children we get sick or injured or an infection or virus's.They might or might not be contagious but if we love or even like someone we try to help them over is No I don't think you have to be concerned.How is his hygiene is he clean looking still got all his teeth don't smell bad feet don't stink if not sound like he is OK maybe been in the gym to much.

Answer 4

Hi There.
Almost certain that finger nail and toe nail infection is a pretty minor thing in Men and Women !
I do not believe that this is contagious !
Generally Lamisil is a good treatment for this !
If you are concerned and want to be sure , ask your own Doctor !
.if you do not want to ask your Boy friend !
I am sure He will tell you the same.
Do not be to concerned ! ( it,s not like sexual disease )
Just normal stuff !
Good Luck in your relationship .
Kind regards Nick.

Answer 5

sounds to me like he is lying about how he got it. it's toenail fungus, and if he has it on his hands too that pretty gross. I'm not sure if it is contagious but i know a few guys that have it, and both of them have very poor hygiene...and their feet REALLY REALLY stink. I mean like a dead animal stink!!!

Answer 6

There is also this nail polish stuff that he can put on his nails to help remove the fungus....I know walgreens carries it but dont know the name_

Answer 7

Toenail fungus is much more common than fingernail fungus. The dark, warm, moist environment of a shoe provides an ideal environment for fungus to grow. Men are more likely to be affected by this condition than women, and some believe it to be heriditary. Toe nails can take up to a year to grow out. This is one of the main reasons this condition is so difficult to treat successfully, let alone cure.
When treating toenail fungus, one should change socks frequently and alternate between multiple pairs of shoes. Go barefoot whenever possible, because fungi cannot thrive in an oxygen rich environment.
Walking barefoot in public shows, pools, and other settings should be avoided at all costs. The microorganisms that cause nail fungus of the toes can be picked up in environments like this.
To prevent and successfully treat toe fungus, you should be very careful to protect the toes from any damage, tearing, or trauma. Many people initially contract fungal nail infections when they drop something on their foot, get an ingrown toenail, or cut skin while trimming nails.










© 2005 Nail-Fungus.org
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This site is NOT intended to replace the advice of a physician and is intended to be an information resource only.
Nail Fungus (also called tinea unguium or onychomychosis) affects the fingernails and toenails of an estimated 30-35 million Americans. This disease is commonly misunderstood and left untreated for various reasons. The fungi that cause toenail fungus are related to those that cause ringworm, athelete's foot, and other common fungal infections. This website is dedicated to providing information on the symptoms, treatment options, and causes of fungal nail infections. Toenail fungus, in particular, is notoriously difficult to treat. These fungi can also be confused with other conditions, such as psoriasis of the nails, nail ridges, and sometimes bacterial infections.

December 03, 2006

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This article is from the WebMD
Medical News Archive




Nail Fungus on the Rise in the U.S.

By Gillian Wansbrough
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Dr. Tonja Wynn Hampton


Nov. 17, 2000 -- Think nail fungus is something you'd never have to worry about? New research suggests you should think again. A fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails -- called onychomycosis -- is more prevalent than previously thought and may be on the rise, according to a study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.


A little more than 1,800 people participated in the study that was conducted at 12 locations in Canada and the U.S.


About 14% of the people were found to have nail fungus -- marked by thick, discoloured nails and confirmed through a nail-clipping test.


Previous studies from other countries report rates of nail fungus ranging from about 3% to about 7%. Even though it's hard to tell what the incidence was previously, the high frequency of nail fungus in this study may indicate an increasing incidence in the U.S., according to the researchers.


The study found several factors to be associated with increased risk of nail fungus: older age, male sex, and diseases affecting the circulatory system, including diabetes and high blood pressure.


On the other hand, race, a family history of nail problems or athlete's foot, and participation in various sports or gardening were not associated with an increased risk.


"It's a very common disease, and [14%] may still be an underestimate," says co-author Richard Summerbell, PhD, a senior researcher with a group in the Netherlands that focuses on fungus. At the time of the study, he was with the Ontario Ministry of Health Mycology Laboratory in Canada.


He says it's difficult to look at nail infection in isolation since it's usually linked to foot or skin infection by the same fungus. Plus, there's a genetic component involved. A Florida skin specialist found that about 75% of kids whose parents were susceptible to a certain fungus also were likely to develop the same susceptibility.


These children often become infected in the family home before the age of 7, Summerbell says, and the risk of developing nail fungus increases with each year. "By age 60 or so, the infection tends to work its way up under the ball of the toe and start infecting the nail bed."


Increased immigration also could be a factor contributing to the increase, says Charles Lynde, MD, a senior dermatologist at the Lynde Centre for Dermatology and associate professor with the department of dermatology at the Toronto Hospital in Canada. Nail fungus is more prevalent in certain parts of the world, like China, he says.


"Certainly, the rates have increased over the last 30 to 40 years," Lynde, who was not involved with the study, tells WebMD. "But whether it's increased rapidly over the past four to five years, I'm not so sure."


He agrees that nail fungus is very prevalent. "You can even get it by going out in your own backyard without shoes. Or pick it up from the carpet if another family member has it. ... Some people actually get pain from it. You can go on to get an infected toe, which is particularly a problem with diabetics and people with circulatory problems."


But people now are more aware that something can be done to treat nail fungus, according to Lynde. He points to two drugs taken by mouth that have been added to the treatment arsenal over the past few years to combat the condition -- Sporanox and Lamisil.


Sporanox is taken for a week every four weeks over a 12-week period while Lamisil is taken continuously for three months. With either medicine, it takes nine to 12 months for discoloured fingernails to grow out and one to one-and-a-half years for the toenails to grow out.


Lynde encourages people with infected nails to get some medical attention. Nail fungus is not life threatening, but there's no reason to not have nails treated, particularly if it makes someone feel self-conscious, which it often does, he says.


Some simple steps can help prevent nail fungus. Lynde suggests wearing flip-flops at the local swimming pool or at the gym, drying the feet fully, and then powdering shoes and feet immediately afterward.




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Answer 8

Sure could be just that !