Fungus facts

Nail fungus infections (also known as onychomycosis) are caused by microscopic fungal organisms (dematophytes, yeasts and molds) that feed off the keratin protein in the nail.

The fungal infection results in a yellow discoloration and thickening of the nail, with debris (or crumbs) flaking off under the nail. In early stages the condition is typically painless. But in later stages of the disease fungal nails can become painful if the nail thickens considerably or begins to separate from the nail bed.

The condition is very common. In fact, experts estimate that as many as 8% of the total adult population is infected at any one time. The infection is more common in toenails than fingernails.

So, if you’ve got toenail fungus, is it safe to go swimming or can you pass the infection to others?

The short answer to the question is, yes, you can swim in a swimming pool, as long as the water has been property chlorinated. The chlorine compounds used in swimming pools have disinfectant properties that keep the pool clean, sanitary and free of the causative pathogens of onychomycosis.

But although you can’t transmit the infection through the pool water, you have to take care when walking around the sides of the pool and in communal areas such as showers, locker rooms and changing rooms. Infections are passed through direct contact and these public areas often have the warm, moist conditions in which the fungi that cause nail infections can thrive.

Never walk barefoot in these environments. Instead make sure you put on sandals or flip flops. For extra protection, you can wear neoprene slip-on foot covers. These will cover up the toenail fungus completely, reducing any chance of transmission. They’ll also help avoid embarrassment if your toenails are disfigured (and stop you slipping on wet surfaces).

If you’ve got a nail fungus infection we encourage you to read our reviews of the various nail fungus treatments available to cure the disease and information on living with toenail fungus and preventing cross-infections.

Nail fungus is not a trivial, cosmetic condition. It is a progressive disorder that, if left untreated, can result in the loss or disfigurement of the nail, reduced mobility and even serve as a reservoir for infections elsewhere in the body. And given the infectious nature of the disorder, the public health considerations of non-treatment should not be dismissed.

Paul Stamets is passionate about the fungal kingdom. In fact he claims that mushrooms can save the world!

He has filed over twenty patents for mushroom-related technologies. So he may be right!

Check out his discoveries in the video below. Paul reports that fungi produce some the world’s best antibiotics, demonstrates how fungi may be effective against flu and pox viruses, puts up a great series of photos showing fungi consuming toxic petroleum waste, has a case study showing a pesticidal fungi that tricks insects into eating it and finally shows how fungui may be the answer to the wold energy crisis.

Yes, and at 2,200 acres in size it will take some beating. We’re talking about a Honey Mushroom (Armillaria Ostoyae) that lives in the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon.

Apart from a few mushroom heads, the bulk of the fungus lives underground so it’s hard to envisage it’s size. But scientist have tested samples from various locations and confirmed that it is all one organism. It takes the form of a mycelial mat - effectively a giant network of single-celled filaments or tentacles that take water the nutrients from the surrounding soil and roots.

The fungus has been estimated at 2000 years old, but it could be far older than that.