So what is a fungal infection? It is a disease caused by fungi, the number of which is very large in nature. Today there are more than 200 different species of mushrooms. Where do fungi live and how does a person become infected?
Fungi are widespread in the environment. They live in the soil, on plants, they live on animals, and there is even a saprophytic species of fungi that happily coexists with us, that is, living on human skin. Fungi pathogenic to humans that affect the skin are called dermatophytes, and the diseases are called dermatomycosis.
Infection can occur in 2 ways: direct infection through contact with soil, plants, a sick animal or a sick person; indirect - in contact with various things and objects that were used by patients, also through animal care items.
Why does fungal infection occur?
Susceptibility to fungal infection is determined by several factors: climatic conditions (hot season), state of the immune system, skin condition and the presence of concomitant diseases. Age, gender and professional factors are also important. More often, of course, the manifestation of the disease occurs in the warm season, after returning from the sea, where hot and humid weather prevails, accompanied by increased sweating.
These factors are especially favorable for the introduction of pathogenic fungi and for the transition from saprophytes to pathogenic flora.
What are the types of fungal infections?
There are mainly 4 groups of fungal diseases:
They are quite superficial, as they affect the stratum corneum and hair cuticles, without causing inflammatory reactions and do not affect skin attachments (hair, nails). The most common disease in this group is pityriasis versicolor or pityriasis versicolor. It is manifested by the appearance of café-au-lait spots, mainly on the chest, back and shoulder girdle.
This is a large group of fungal diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails. The most common disease in this group is athlete's foot, or foot mycosis. The disease is very common among the adult population – around 80% have this disease.
A huge role in the prevention of fungal diseases is played by treating shoes, treating manicure and pedicure scissors with special antifungal agents, in the form of solutions and sprays.
It is also important to combat excessive sweating of the skin on your feet, if necessary. For treatment depending on severity.
The course and extent of the process utilize local and systemic antifungal therapy.
In recent years, a modern method has been successfully used in the treatment of fungal nail diseases (onychomycosis) - laser treatment of onychomycosis.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Fungal diseases, also known as mycoses, are infectious diseases caused by pathogenic fungi.
Fungal infections can affect a wide variety of organs. In this case, the symptoms can be very different depending on the affected organ and the type of fungus. There are many types of fungal infections, but forms that affect the skin and nails are the most common. Mycoses are contagious diseases and are transmitted from person to person.
Fungal diseases can appear anywhere on the human body: on the trunk, limbs, scalp, palms, soles, between the fingers, groin and even the face.
If a fungal disease is detected in a family member, all family members should be carefully examined and, if it is a child, also those caring for the sick child. It is also necessary to carefully check children entering orphanages, kindergartens, schools and similar institutions for the presence of fungal diseases.
It is especially important to screen students before they leave and after they arrive from summer camps.
If you suspect the presence of ringworm, see a dermatologist and get tested for fungus. Before the consultation, it is best to cut your hair short, this makes it much easier to recognize ringworm.
At the slightest suspicion of a fungal disease in a child, he should be banned from attending school or kindergarten. Immediately after confirming the diagnosis, treatment must be started and under no circumstances should the patient have contact with healthy children.
Any object touched by the patient may be contaminated and pose a risk of transmitting infection or reinfection to the patient. Each of these items must be disinfected or destroyed. Clothes are disinfected in steam formalin or steam airlock. Bed linen is disinfected by boiling for 20 minutes.
Prevention of fungal diseases in hairdressing salons, baths and showers should be carried out regularly, at intervals of no more than 3 months. Metal objects must be thoroughly disinfected with dry heat and other things in steam formalin chambers.
Prevention of mycoses in animals is of great importance due to the fact that people are often infected with trichophytosis and microsporia of animals.
It is necessary to create hygienic pens and veterinary inspection services on collective farms.
People who have been in contact with sick animals are advised to observe hygiene rules and monitor the condition of their skin, as they can become a source of further spread of infections, both between people and animals.
Cats and dogs can carry microsporum fluff, which is the source of the disease microsporia. Animals suspected of carrying a fungal infection should be transferred to special veterinary institutions, but should never be simply driven away because they can spread the infection. But there are also known cases when the carriers were rats and mice.
Preventive measures are necessary to reduce the possibility of infection of healthy people, so as not to turn them into carriers of fungal infection. The systematic disinfection of facilities is one of the most important points in the prevention process. It is done with a 5% chloramine solution and then everything is washed with a 5% soap solution.
Fungal skin lesions
Fungal skin infections are quite common diseases. It can affect any part of the body. To avoid illnesses, sanitary and hygienic standards must be observed. Treating fungus is a complex process, so do not postpone a visit to the doctor.
Preparations for the prevention of foot fungus
Foot fungus is an infectious disease that is accompanied by the appearance of blisters, peeling, itching, cracks, etc. To prevent the disease, you need to maintain foot hygiene and use antifungal medications.
Skin fungus treatment
Skin fungus, or ringworm, often occurs in people with weakened immune systems. Affecting the skin, the disease often becomes chronic, reducing the body's resistance capacity. There are different types of mycosis, treatment must be carried out individually.
Fungal diseases of the male genital organs
A separate type of male diseases are fungal diseases of the male genital organs, characterized by specific transmission - exclusively through sexual contact. Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to your health and carry out prevention.
Prevention of fungal diseases. Methods for primary prevention of mycoses
To prevent infection with a pathogenic fungus, you must follow several rules:
- Maintain personal hygiene. Any contact in public places must end with hand hygiene. To do this, simply wash your hands well or apply an antiseptic solution.
- Public places should be visited with caution. Saunas, bathrooms, showers and bathtubs are "fertile ground" for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora. Avoid contact with surfaces in these areas.
- Avoid contact with infected people or animals. This also applies to objects used by patients.
The first sensations of discomfort in the skin or its appendages should not be ignored. It is best to consult a specialist who will determine the cause and be able to prescribe the correct treatment.
Causes of the development of foot mycosis
Foot mycosis is a skin lesion caused by parasitic fungi. A very common disease among the population. The surface of the foot and its back, the interdigital space and the nails are involved.
The causative agent is the Trichophyton fungus, which has two varieties. The first is the red Trichophyton, the second is the interdigital. The last type is the most common. According to the WHO, up to 30% of residents of developed countries suffer from dermatomycosis of the skin of the foot. This is associated with the constant use of shoes, creating the most favorable conditions for the development of foot fungus.
Causes of ringworm
The infection is transmitted mainly by contact - through personal belongings and household items. Horny particles of the skin, contaminated with spores of pathogenic strains of fungi, are a direct source of infection for other people.
Microorganisms multiply more intensely in a humid environment. Walking barefoot in public places - baths, saunas, showers - creates prerequisites for ringworm infection.
Getting into microcracks, abrasions and diaper rash on human skin, the spores grow on the thread-like body of the fungus - the mycelium. It penetrates deeply into the epidermis, creating lesions.
The causes of ringworm development are:
- reduced immunity due to chronic diseases;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins, thrombophlebitis;
- age over 60 years.
These factors reduce the protective functions of the skin, opening access for pathogens to penetrate. At risk are metalworkers, miners, military personnel and athletes - anyone who, due to duty or working conditions, is obliged to constantly wear waterproof and vapor-proof footwear.
Intrafamilial mycoses of the feet are common. Proximity to an infected family member is the shortest route of transmission of a harmful fungal disease.
Symptoms of a fungal infection
Fungal diseases of the feet are manifested by various signs of skin destruction. Depending on the nature of the damage to the skin, the forms of mycosis are distinguished:
- Wiped out. The surface of the foot peels off, diaper rash appears between the toes. The itching is less. Patients often ignore this, considering the symptoms of the fungus to be an irritation, or use ineffective home treatment methods.
- Squamous hyperkeratic. This shape is also called "moccasin foot" due to the rough and thick leather on the sole, covered in cracks. Damage to the skin is significant - it peels off in large scales, its color is grayish-yellow. There is pain when walking, an unpleasant odor. The disease most often affects elderly people.
- Wet (vesicular, dehydrotic). Its peculiarity is the formation of small pink bubbles, which over time merge into large bubbles. The disease begins in the arch of the sole and then spreads throughout the foot and toes. When the bubbles burst, they form pockets of erosion. The skin swells and itches.
- Intertriginous. Characterized by damage to the interdigital space. The skin loosens, becomes wet and swells. Intense itching and burning appear. Over time, deep, painful cracks form, interfering with normal walking.
- Spicy. Severe form of ringworm. It is characterized by fever, inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes, swelling of the feet and legs. The feet are covered with blisters containing serous-purulent contents. After opening them, weeping erosions form, causing severe physical suffering to the patient.
Pathogenic fungi, feeding on the cells of the human body, release toxins that poison the body. The protective function of the skin and general immunity decrease. Lesions are open doors for bacterial and viral infections. Fungus treatment is a necessary condition for maintaining normal health and well-being.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
Diagnosis and treatment of fungal foot diseases are carried out by a dermatologist and mycologist. Determination of the type of fungus is carried out by laboratory methods - by studying tissue samples under a microscope. A cultural method to determine the type of pathogen is to place the inoculated material on a nutrient medium. At the same time, the causes of ringworm are being determined. Test for HIV, blood sugar levels, STDs.
Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. It can be monotherapy or complex treatment with external agents and tablets.
How to treat athlete's foot
Ringworm treatment is successful when the patient takes medications and procedures responsibly. Modern medicines have a liver-friendly effect and effectively destroy the mycelium of pathological forms of the fungus.
In wet forms of the fungus, the wounds are first dried with a solution of potassium permanganate, brilliant green, iodine or boric acid. In the treatment of this type of mycosis, medications containing corticosteroids are essential. The "moccasin foot" is cleaned of keratinized layers by wrapping it with salicylic acid. They soften rough skin, which is easy to clean after the procedure.
Treatment with folk remedies for foot fungus
Homemade formulations in the form of:
- foot bath;
- ointments;
- lotions;
- compresses.
- decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.
Baths last 15 to 20 minutes. The solution is prepared by adding acids - acetic, boric or a mixture of salt and soda. They soften the stratum corneum well. After the procedure, dry your foot and lubricate it with birch tar. After an hour and a half, remove the remaining medicine with a napkin. Course – 3 to 5 times. Onion and garlic in the form of compresses disinfect the surface of the feet well. Used in mixture with oils. For minor skin lesions, a decoction of oak bark, juices of celandine, lemon and essential oils of tea tree or fir are effective.
Important. Folk remedies have no contraindications, but their use is most effective in combination with drug treatment.
Consequences of foot mycosis
Like any infectious disease, tinea pedis affects the cells of the human body. Penetrating into the thickness of the skin and feeding on its components, the mycelium grows in the epithelial layers. This does not go unnoticed by the body. Local and general immunity decreases. Allergic reactions may occur and asthmatic manifestations may intensify. Bacterial and viral infections penetrate open wounds. Fungal infections can be accompanied by more serious illnesses.
Important. Foot mycosis represents a danger both to the carrier of the dermatophyte and to their immediate environment. People with health problems are more susceptible to contracting fungal diseases. It is necessary to cure the fungus to protect yourself and others.
Preventing foot fungus
The main preventive measures should aim to:
- avoid contact with possible sources of fungal infection;
- maintain personal hygiene;
- maintain a healthy lifestyle;
- treatment of chronic diseases.
If signs of mycosis appear on the foot, you should consult a specialist doctor and undergo the prescribed treatment. If preventive measures are taken, cases of a fungal disease on the skin of the legs returning are quite rare.
Fungal infection in the body: symptoms and treatment
The human body is inhabited by many viruses, fungi and bacteria. All of these microorganisms can be beneficial, opportunistic or pathogenic. Furthermore, the last two types do not cause harm, as long as a certain balance is maintained between the microorganisms.
Fungal infection
The human body is inhabited by many viruses, fungi and bacteria. All of these microorganisms can be beneficial, opportunistic or pathogenic. Furthermore, the last two types do not cause harm, as long as a certain balance is maintained between the microorganisms.
The greatest danger is represented by a fungus - a microorganism that can damage a person's skin and internal organs. There are about 500 species of fungi that cause ringworm in humans. What fungal infections can cause serious illness in people and what treatment methods are used to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms?
Types of fungi
All fungi that can live in the human body are divided into several types:
- yeast;
- musty;
- domiphoric.
Fungi are multicellular
Yeasts live in the human body, being part of its microflora. They belong to opportunistic species, as they do not pose a threat to health, as long as the balance is maintained. All other types of fungi are pathogenic and pose a real threat to human health and life.
Fungi can multiply both on the surface of the skin and nails and inside the body. However, a healthy person, as a rule, is not affected by a fungal infection, as it is destroyed by the cells of the immune system. Therefore, the most favorable conditions for the functioning of the fungus are created in the body of people with weakened immunity.
Characteristics of cutaneous mycosis
The skin often suffers from fungal infections. Furthermore, it spares neither women, nor men, nor children. This disease is divided into several main groups:
- athlete's foot;
- dermatomycosis;
- sporotrichosis;
- candidiasis;
- trichophytosis.
Athlete's foot is a fungal disease caused by fungi of the genus Epidermophyton. It most often affects men. In athlete's foot, not only the top layer of skin is affected, but also the nails.
There are two forms of this disease:
- inguinal athlete's foot;
- athlete's foot.
Dermatomycoses are a whole group of fungal skin infections that affect one in five people on the planet. In this case, mycosis can develop not only on the skin, but also on internal organs.
Sporotrichosis is a chronic fungal disease caused by fungi of the genus Sporotrichium. Infection occurs through contact with grass, bushes, soil, street dust and even food. In this case, the skin and subcutaneous tissue are most affected. Mucous membranes and internal organs are rarely exposed to the fungus.
Candidiasis is caused by yeasts of the genus Candida. These microorganisms are part of the healthy microflora and perform important functions in the human body. However, when favorable conditions are created, Candida fungi begin to multiply actively, disturbing the balance of bacteria, which leads to the development of candidiasis. Most often, candidiasis or candidiasis appears in the vagina in women and in the mouths of children.
Causes of fungal infection
The development of a fungal infection is facilitated by contact with a fungal source. For example, its spores can be in the air, on the surface of the ground, or in bird droppings. At the same time, to reproduce, fungi need a special environment, which is created when the body's protective functions are reduced.
Although athlete's foot can affect anyone, there are certain populations that are more susceptible to developing the condition.
These include:
- people who have undergone organ transplant operations;
- cancer patients, as well as people who have undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy;
- people suffering from diabetes and lung diseases.
Fungi can grow on the surface of the skin. But the favorite places for dislocation are the folds of the skin, the curves of the arms and legs, that is, all places where there is a lot of humidity and body temperature. Ringworm can spread to a small area, such as between your fingers or toes. But some fungi are capable of infecting deep layers of tissue. If ringworm develops in the lungs, it enters the bloodstream, which causes damage to internal organs.
Coccidioidomycosis
This disease is caused by fungi of the genus Coccidioides imitus, which live in the soil. This microorganism is common in the driest areas of America, Africa and Mexico. It enters other countries along with goods supplied by those countries.
Signs of coccidioidomycosis
The first symptoms of the disease resemble ARVI and inflammatory processes in the lungs and bronchi. The presence of fungi is indicated by the following signs:
- slight increase in body temperature;
- chills;
- headache;
- feel tired;
- general weakness of the body.
Later, these symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, and a dry cough. A few weeks after the pulmonary manifestations of the disease, the patient develops skin rashes in the form of papules or nodules that look like warts.
Histoplasmosis
This disease is caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which most often affects the lungs. In some cases, the fungus spreads to other organs, which, if left untreated, leads to the death of the patient. People suffering from AIDS are susceptible to this disease due to the vulnerability of their immune system.
Signs of histoplasmosis
The acute form of the disease is most often asymptomatic, which makes diagnosis difficult and delays the initiation of treatment. In severe cases, patients experience the following symptoms:
- increase in body temperature to 40°-41°C
- chills followed by intense sweating;
- severe headaches and muscle pain;
- chest pain;
- dry cough;
- general weakness.
If left untreated, the disease becomes chronic.
Features of fungal infection treatment
Treatment of any fungal infection involves internal administration of antimycotic medications, as well as symptomatic therapy to improve the patient's general condition. In severe forms of the disease, medications are administered intravenously. The duration of treatment depends on the type of fungal infection and the severity of the disease. In general, it varies from 1 to 3 months. Additionally, patients are given medications that strengthen the body's immune system.
Preventive actions
The fungus is an insidious and difficult to destroy microorganism. Therefore, any infection is easier to prevent. First of all, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, which will allow you to independently fight any pathogens.
It is also recommended to follow the following rules:
- maintain personal hygiene, wash your hands before eating, after every trip to the bathroom and public places;
- wash vegetables and fruits well;
- food of animal origin must undergo prolonged heat treatment;
- eat rationally, minimizing the consumption of simple carbohydrates and sugar;
- monitor body weight;
- take antibacterial and hormonal medications only as prescribed by a doctor;
- use condoms during sexual intercourse.
It is very important, if you find several signs of a fungal infection, to consult a doctor and have a complete examination of the body.
Modern dermatology has a number of antifungal medications that are harmful to fungi and non-toxic to the human body. They exist in different pharmaceutical forms: for local and systemic use.