Fungal nail infections are very common and highly contagious.  Treatments can vary.  Usually the nail will appear discoloured, thick, crumbly, brittle and flaky.  It is important to treat fungal nail at the first signs of infection and be consistent and diligent in any treatment to eradicate the fungus.    The main treatments are antifungal tablets and antifungal lacquers/oils or medicaments to paint on the nails.  

Antifungal tablets with the ingredient Terbinafine are very effective to treat fungal nail infections as they go through your bloodstream to fight the infection, however, these must be given under direction of your GP as Terbinafine can interfere with other medication and have known side-effects, notably liver and kidney damage.  

Trimming out or reducing the thickness of the infected nail or drilling very small holes through the actual nail plate (fenestration) can help the antifungal solution to penetrate and be absorbed into the point of infection into the actual nail bed.  As mentioned previously, any treatment has to be consistent.  It can take anything from 6 months to two years for a new nail to grow.  Also remember to consider your footwear and socks as described earlier.