A Clinico-Epidemiological Study of Ingrown Toe Nails

Ingrown toenail or onychocryptosis is a common toenail problem encountered in primary care practice. The commonest symptom is pain in the affected nail which, if left untreated leads to infection, discharge and difficulty in walking, greatly hampering the quality of life of the individual. Ingrown toenails often have a chronic course and can interfere with quality of life. Its exact etiology is unknown but many anatomic and behavioral factors are thought to contribute to ingrown toenails, such as improper trimming, repetitive or inadvertent trauma, genetic predisposition, hyperhidrosis, and poor foot hygiene. The present study aims to study clinical patterns and various epidemiological factors associated with ingrown toenails.