If fungal infection is suspected, what should you advise the client?

• A. Continue trying home remedies.
• B. Seek advice from their GP.
• C. Use over-the-counter antifungal polish exclusively.
• D. Ignore symptoms.

Answer: (B)

When a fungal infection is suspected, the next step is professional medical assessment rather than self-treatment. Advise the client to consult their GP or another healthcare professional who can confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment. They may perform tests such as a fungal culture or microscopy and can prescribe antifungal therapy, which could be topical, systemic, or a combination depending on the severity. Relying on home remedies or over-the-counter antifungal polish alone often won’t clear the infection and can allow it to worsen or spread. Ignoring symptoms is risky and can lead to longer healing times and potential nail damage. In the meantime, avoid working on or excessively filing the affected nails and maintain good hygiene to reduce spread.