Any disease that is caused by fungus is known as fungal infection. In case you are suffering from yeast infection or athletes’ foot you can blame it on a fungus. A fungus is a primitive organism. Mold, mushrooms and mildew are examples. Fungi lives in soil, air, water or on plants. Some of it lives in human body too.
There are various types of fungi available and only about half of it is harmful. You will get fungi infection in case you have a week immunity system or take antibiotics. Some fungi are reproduced through tiny spores in the air. Either the spores can land on you or you can inhale the spores. As a result fungal infection often starts on the skin or in the lungs.
Common fungal skin infection includes:
Fungal infection can also happen in other parts of the body like lungs. You may suffer from fungal infection in the lungs if you have weekend immunity system that is caused by conditions such as cancer, AIDS, chemotherapy and so on.
Causes of Fungal infection
Fungi usually attack those areas which are moist and where skin surfaces meet such as in the genital areas, between the toes, under the breast and so on. Most of the skin infections are caused by yeast such as Candida or dermatophytes such as Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. Most of the fungi live on the topmost layer of epidermis and do not penetrate deep.
Fungal skin infections are caused if you:
Causes of fungal lungs infection is the combination of weekend immunity system and exposure to Aspergillosis fungus.
Signs and Symptoms
Fungal skin infection symptoms usually depend on the type of fungus that is causing it and on which part of the body has the infection taken place. Often fungal rashes are confused with other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Fungal skin infection can cause skin rashes. While some may be red and itchy there are others which may produce a fine scale that is similar to dry skin. Fungus can either affect any particular area or several areas of your body.
Known symptoms of fungal lungs infection may include:
Preventive measures
There are certain steps which if taken will not only reduce your risk of getting a fungal infection but also will help in not spreading any further:
Myths and facts
Myth: There is no way to avoid skin fungal infection
Fact: Skin fungal infection can be avoided by taking appropriate measure and maintaining basis hygiene.
Myth: It is quite difficult to treat skin fungal infection
Fact: Skin fungal infection can be treated effectively by visiting a good doctor and also by making life style adjustment.
Diagnosis of disease
While diagnosing a fungal skin infection, you doctor will ask you about the symptoms and will examine you thoroughly. You may even be asked about your medical history. Fungal infection will usually be diagnosed by looking at your skin and also by looking at the location of rash. The doctor may even take a fragment of your skin, hair or nail and send it for further investigation to a laboratory.
When diagnosing lungs disease you doctor would like to know about the various symptoms as well as medical history. He may also conduct some tests such as:
Treatment for Fungal infection
Antifungal treatment can be done either by self help or by taking medicines.
Aspergillosis will be treated either by oral or intravenous antifungal drugs or you may be required to undergo surgery in extreme cases.
Steps to improve the health
Always complete the full course of antifungal pills or apply creams regularly to affected areas and visit your doctor often to evaluate the progress of the infectio