The statistics tracking nail fungus infection rates in the US are really quite astonishing. They reveal that around 1 in every 10 people have an infection. Yes, that’s over 35 million people in the US with Onychomycosis (the medical term for nail fungus infection).
But when it comes to seniors, incidence rates are even higher. In fact some estimates claim that over half of all people over the age of 65 have fungal nails. Here are some of the reasons why the rate of infection is so high in this age bracket:
1) The simple mathematics of exposure mean that the older you are the more likely you have come into contact with the dermatophyte fungus that causes nail fungus infections.
2) Older people are likely to have weaker circulation in their extremities which may increase their susceptibility to fungal invasion.
3) After years of wearing shoes and using their feet, older people are likely to have suffered injury or trauma of some kind to their nails and the skin surrounding them. It is thought that any injury, however minor, reduces the local immunity to infections of all kind and can also provide an entry point for the fungal spores.
4) Fungi thrive in moist, dark and protected environments. If an older person finds it harder to dry their feet thoroughly after showering, or take off their shoes and socks, this may contribute to increased prevalence rates.
5) Nail fungus treatment is notoriously difficult. It can take several months of consistent treatment before the fungus is destroyed. For some older people, this repeated routine may be challenging to stick to with the result that they stay infected for longer periods of time. Some may never address the problem at all.
6) It is thought that diabetics are particularly susceptible to nail fungus infections. And as diabetes rates rise with age, so too do nail fungus infection rates.
Check out http://fungusfacts.com for more information on the signs and symptoms of nail fungus, as well as treatment options.