Preventing long term relapsing tinea unguium with topical anti-fungal cream: a case report

BACKGROUND: The patient was aged 34 when he consulted a dermatologist in Vancouver BC with onychomycosis affecting the right great toenail. CASE PRESENTATION: Trichophyton rubrum was cultured from nail clippings. Griseofulvin was taken for 6 months, resulting in clinical and mycological cure. Over the next 27 years there were multiple relapses. Each course of treatment with oral terbinafine (for up to 18 months) or itraconazole resulted in clinical and mycological cure. A dermatological colleague suggested the reason for relapse was likely to be self re-infection. CONCLUSION: No clinical relapse has occurred with once-weekly miconazole cream applied to the toenail and webspaces of the right foot over the last four years.