| Young Children Are Prone To Nail Fungus | | | | infections so that the proper treatment can be |
| Children are sometimes prone to nail fungus because | | | | administered. |
| they usually don't understand the importance of good | | | | Make sure your child receives immediate first aid |
| hygiene and hand washing. The fingernails can be one | | | | treatment if he experiences a cut on the finger or |
| of the dirtiest parts of children's bodies. The | | | | hand. It is very common for children to get a nail |
| underside of the nails can contain a reservoir of | | | | fungus that enters through a cut or scrape on the |
| microorganisms, especially if their nails aren't kept | | | | finger. |
| short. | | | | Although it is not always easy to get a child to eat a |
| Children who are in day care may be susceptible to | | | | nutritious diet, proper nutrition is essential to keep the |
| fungus infections and other contagious health | | | | immune system strong. Encourage your child to eat |
| problems. To help prevent infection, trim the child's | | | | fresh fruit instead of sugary sweets. Eliminate |
| nails short and wash the edges of the nails with | | | | sweetened soft drinks from your child's diet and |
| antibacterial soap and oil of oregano. Doing this on a | | | | replace them with fresh fruit juices, low fat milk and |
| regular basis will help prevent nail fungus infections in | | | | water. Keep small boxes of raisins in candy bowls |
| children. | | | | instead of sugary treats. Keeps some sliced carrots in |
| Symptoms of a nail fungus infection in children | | | | a Ziploc bag in your refrigerator and encourage your |
| include:o Brittle, crumbly or ragged nailso Nails that are | | | | child to choose those at snack time. You might want |
| distorted in shapeo Nails that are flat and dullo Yellow, | | | | to add a multivitamin to your child's daily regimen to |
| green or black nailso Pain in and around the nail bed | | | | make sure he is getting all of the vitamins and |
| The two most common types of nail fungus | | | | minerals that he needs to stay healthy. |
| infections in children are dermatophytes and yeast. | | | | If your child has nail fungus infections that linger or |
| Dermatophytes is the most common infection that | | | | worsen, you should consult your pediatrician. Your |
| affects children's toenails while yeast seems to be | | | | pediatrician may refer your child to a pediatric |
| the major culprit for children's fingernail fungus cases. | | | | dermatologist to further evaluate the nail fungus |
| It is important to correctly diagnose the type of | | | | infection. |