A serious and frequently underappreciated public health concern is onychomycosis, a fungal infection that affects the nail unit. Onychomycosis is a general term that encompasses infections caused by saprophytic moulds, yeasts, and dermatophytes. Its clinical manifestations include nail discoloration, subungual hyperkeratosis, onycholysis, and onychauxis. The diagnosis is confirmed by microscopic, laboratory, and histopathologic examination. There are various treatment options for fungal nail infection, such as systemic therapies and oral and topical antifungal agents, with treatment selection determined by factors including age, gender, degree of infection, and peripheral vascular disease, among others. The prevalence rate of onychomycosis is specified by predisposing factors, age, social class, environmental conditions, and travel frequency. This investigation aims to provide a detailed, evidence-based understanding of onychomycosis. The aim is to compile the most recent peer-reviewed information on its etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology. The review provides insight into illness, comparative analyses of treatments, diagnostic approaches, and explanations of key issues and recent developments. By keeping in mind scientists and medical experts, this review is a valuable resource for them.
Keywords: Onychomycosis, Antifungal treatment, Epidemiology, Action pathway, Cellular mechanism.
How to cite this article: Jaswal S, Saha S, Kumar P, Current Perspectives on Onychomycosis: Etiological Insights, Diagnostic Modalities, and Preventive care. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(1): 374-387. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.1.41