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Fungi (plural for fungus) are different from both viruses andbacteria in many ways. They
are larger, plant-like organisms that lack chlorophyll (the substance that makes plants
green and converts sunlight into energy).

Fungi are organisms that can grow in or on the body, causing infections of internal organs or of the skin, nails, and hair.

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Mycology

Bread mold and mushrooms are among the most familiar examples of fungi (FUN-ji), organisms that grow in an irregular
mass without roots, stems, or leaves. Fungi feed on other organisms, living or dead, and play an important role in helping
dead plants and animals decay. Of the thousands of species of fungi, a few can cause human disease.

These fungi cause a wide range of illnesses, from minor skin conditions to life-threatening diseases. They produce two
kinds of infections: systemic and superficial. Systemic infections affect internal organs. They often start in the lungs, but in
severe cases may spread to the blood, heart, brain, kidneys, liver, or other parts of the body. Superficial infections affect
the surface of the body, the skin, the nails, and the hair. They most often occur in moist areas, such as between the toes,
in the crotch, or in the mouth.

What Are Superficial Fungal Infections?

Superficial fungal infections attack tissues on the surface of the body, which include the skin, nails, or hair. Some common
examples are ringworm, athlete's foot, jock itch, and yeast infections. Candida yeast * infections are usually found on the
skin, in the mouth, in the vagina, on the head of the penis, or around the nails. Superficial fungal infections are somewhat
contagious and pass from person to person through direct contact or, less commonly, through clothes or contact with
surfaces of other objects in the environment.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Superficial Fungal Infections?

Although the symptoms produced by infection with different types of fungi varies, these infections generally cause itching,
reddened skin, and inflammation. Some superficial skin infections are mild and produce few or no symptoms. Others are
more irritating. Superficial fungal infections are rarely life threatening, but they may cause considerable discomfort or
embarrassment.

*
yeoast (YEEST) is a type of fungus.

How Do Doctors Diagnose and Treat Superficial Fungal Infections?

Skin infections

Superficial fungal infections are often diagnosed on the basis of their appearance and their location on the body. Most skin
infections respond well to topical antifungal creams, some of which are available over the counter, which means they do
not require a doctor's prescription. Other skin infections, however, do not respond to such treatment. They require a
doctor's attention and systemic treatment with prescription antifungal medications.

Candidiasis

Candida yeast infections are diagnosed by staining specimens of sputum or urine, or scrapings from the skin or the lining
of the mouth or vagina, and by examining them under a microscope. People with vaginal yeast infections can be
effectively treated with medications. Occasionally, repeated courses of treatment may be required.

How Do People Prevent Superficial Fungal Infections?

Preventing superficial fungal infections is difficult because people are continually exposed to fungi. Keeping the skin dry
and clean is probably helpful.

What Are Systemic Fungal Infections?

Some fungi are normally present in the body, kept under control by the body's immune system. If the immune system is
abnormally weak, however, the fungi can grow out of control and cause illnesses. These are
termed opportunistic infections. Among the most common opportunistic fungal infections that affect people are:

candidiasis
 aspergillosis

phycomycosis

cryptococcosis

The Trichophyton fungus, photographed under an electron microscope at more than 4,000 times its original size, causes ringworm of the scalp (tinea
capitis). The fungus is reproducing by flowering.

Oliver Meckes/Photo Researchers, Inc.

People with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), people with leukemia (cancer of the blood cells), and people
with Hodgkin's disease or other kinds of lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) are at risk for opportunistic fungal
infections because their immune systems have been weakened. Such infections may also occur in people who are
receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or who are taking corticosteroids * or immunosupressant * drugs, such as the
drugs a person takes after an organ transplant.

*
corticosteroid (kor-ti-ko-STEER-oids) are medications that are prescribed to reduce inflammation and sometimes to
suppress the body's immune responses.

*
immunosuppressants (im-yoo-no-su-PRES-ants) are substances that weaken the body's immune system.

People who have received prolonged courses of antibiotics for treatment of serious bacterial infections are also at risk for
fungal infections.

Other fungi cause illnesses even in otherwise healthy people with normal immune systems. In these cases, people inhale
the spores (immature form) of fungi that normally live in the environment, especially the soil, in certain geographical areas.
Examples include:

Histoplasmosis (his-to-plaz-MO-sis) occurs in the United States in the east and midwest, in Mexico, and in Central America.
The fungus that causes it often grows on chicken droppings and bat guano.

Coccidioidomycosis (kok-sid-e-oi-do-my-KO-sis), or Valley fever, is found in the southwestern United States.

North American blastomycosis (blas-to-my-KO-sis) is found throughout North America, and outbreaks recently have been
reported in Africa as well.

South American blastomycosis, which is caused by a different fungus, is seen in South and Central America.

What Are the Symptoms of Systemic Fungal Infections?

Systemic fungal infections often are chronic * and develop slowly, taking weeks or months to become a problem.
Symptoms are sometimes similar to those of the common cold, but sometimes, especially in people with weakened
immune systems, symptoms may be sudden and severe, requiring hospitalization. Symptoms may include cough, fever,
chills, night sweats, anorexia (loss of appetite), weight loss, general fatigue, and depression.

If the infection spreads from the lungs to other organs, it may be particularly severe, especially if the patient has a
weakened immune system. For example, cryptococcosis (krip-to-ko-KO-sis) may lead to meningitis (men-in-JY-tis), which
causes inflammation and swelling of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

How Do Doctors Diagnose and Treat Systemic Fungal Infections?

Diagnosis

Diagnosing and treating systemic fungal infections can be a challenge for a doctor. Many of the symptoms are mild and
vary greatly from person to person. Blood or skin tests exist for only a few of these infections and often are inconclusive or
fail to find a fungus that really is there, a result called a false negative. Chest x-rays may show abnormalities in the lungs
as fuzzy white spots on the black x-ray film, but the spots do not identify the specific cause.

A diagnosis of systemic fungal infection usually is confirmed when a fungus is cultured, or grown, in a laboratory dish from
a sample of the patient's sputum, bone marrow, urine, blood, cerebrospinal (ser-e-bro-SPY-nel) fluid, or other tissue.

*
chronic (KRON-ik) means continuing for a long period of time.
Treatment

Treatment varies, depending on which fungus is causing the condition and how severe the symptoms are. Doctors usually
prescribe antifungal medications, with drug therapy sometimes continuing for several weeks. In some cases, particularly if
the immune system is weak, drug treatment may fail, or the doctor may recommend surgery to remove infected tissues.

See also
Athlete's Foot
Immunodeficiency
Ringworm
Yeast Infection, Vaginal

Read more: http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/E-Ga/Fungal-Infections.html#ixzz4cTYmKbVk

Ringworm

Ringworm
Written by Elly Dock
Medically Reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, PhD, MSN, RN, CRNA on March 6, 2017

 Overview
Pictures
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook

Prevention

Read Next

Part 1 of 9

What is ringworm?
Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, is a fungal infection of the skin. The name
ringworm is a misnomer, since the infection is caused by a fungus, not a worm.

Ringworm infection can affect both humans and animals. The infection initially
presents with red patches on affected areas of the skin and later spreads to other
parts of the body. The infection may affect the skin of the scalp, feet, groin, beard, or
other areas.
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Part 3 of 9

Recognizing ringworm
Symptoms vary depending on where youre infected. With a skin infection, you may
experience the following:
 red, itchy, scaly, or raised patches
patches that develop blisters or begin to ooze
patches that may be redder on the outside edges or resemble a ring
patches with edges that are defined and raised

If youre experiencing dermatophytosis in your nails, they may become thicker or

discolored, or they may begin to crack. If the scalp is affected, bald patches may
develop.

Part 4 of 9

What causes ringworm?

Three different types of fungi can cause this infection. They are
called trichophyton, microsporum, and epidermophyton. Its possible that these fungi
may live for an extended period as spores in soil. Humans and animals can contract
ringworm after direct contact with this soil. The infection can also spread through
contact with infected animals or humans. The infection is commonly spread among
children and by sharing items that may not be clean.

Part 5 of 9
 Who is at risk for ringworm?
Anyone can develop ringworm. However, the infection is very common among
children and people who own pet cats. Both cats and dogs can catch ring worm and
then pass it on to humans who touch them. Signs to be aware of in pets include:

hairless patches of skin that appear circular

crusty or scaly patches
patches that may not be completely hairless but have brittle or broken hairs
opaque or whitish areas around the claws

You may be more likely to develop dermatophytosis if you come into contact with the
fungi while youre wet or if you have minor skin injuries or abrasions. Using a public
shower or public pool areas may also expose you to the infective fungi.

If youre often barefoot, you may develop ringworm of the feet. Those who often
share items such as hairbrushes or unwashed clothing also have an increased risk of
developing the infection.

Part 6 of 9

Diagnosing ringworm
 Your doctor will diagnose ringworm by examining your skin and possibly using a black
light to view your skin in the affected area. The fungus will fluoresce (glow) under
black light. If youre infected, the areas of the skin where fungus is located will glow.

Your doctor may confirm a suspected diagnosis of ringworm by requesting certain

tests:

If youre getting a skin biopsy, your doctor will take a sample of your skin or
discharge from a blister and send it to a lab to test it for the presence of fungus.
If youre getting a KOH exam, your doctor will scrape off a small area of infected
skin and place it in potassium hydroxide (KOH). The KOH destroys normal cells and
leaves the fungal cells untouched, so theyre easy to see under a microscope.

Part 7 of 9

Treating ringworm
Your doctor may recommend both medications and some lifestyle adjustments to
treat ringworm.
 Medication
Your doctor may prescribe various medications depending on the severity of your
ringworm infection. Ketoconazole is a prescription-strength medication thats often
used to treat fungal infections. Over-the-counter medications and skin creams may
be recommended for use as well. Over-the-counter products may
contain clotrimazole, miconazole, or other related ingredients.

Home care
In addition to prescription and over-the-counter medication, your doctor may
recommend that you care for your infection at home by practicing some of the
following behaviors:

avoid clothing that irritates the infected area

cover it with a bandage if youre unable to avoid clothing that irritates the area
wash bedding and clothes daily during an infection to help disinfect your
surroundings
clean and dry your skin regularly

If youve been scratching your skin frequently due to the infection, you may also
develop a staph or strep infection of the skin. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to
treat this bacterial infection as you continue your treatment for the ringworm.
 Part 8 of 9

How long does ringworm last?

Skin medications may clear ringworm in two to four weeks. If youre experiencing
severe dermatophytosis that isnt responding to over-the-counter treatments or
treatment at home, your doctor may prescribe antifungal pills to clear up the
infection. Most people respond positively to treatment.

Part 9 of 9

Preventing ringworm
You can prevent ringworm by practicing healthy and hygienic behaviors. Many
infections come from contact with animals and lack of proper hygiene. Tips to avoid
ringworm include:

Tips
1. Wash your hands after interacting with an animal.
2. Disinfect and clean pet living areas.

3. Avoid people or animals with ringworm if you have a weakened immune

system.

4. Shower and shampoo your hair regularly.

5. Wear shoes if showering in community areas.

6. Avoid sharing personal items like clothing or hairbrushes with people who
might have ringworm.

7. Keep your feet clean and dry.

Athlete's Foot
Written by The Healthline Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, RN, CNE, COI on October 19, 2015


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Part 1 of 10

What Is Athletes Foot?

Highlights
1. Athletes foot is a fungal infection that affects the skin on the feet.
2. It can also spread to the toenails or hands. It is contagious.

3. Going barefoot in public places, such as locker rooms, is a common

cause.

Athletes foot also called tinea pedis is a contagious fungal infection that affects
the skin on the feet and can spread to the toenails and sometimes the hands. The
fungal infection is called athletes foot because its commonly seen in athletes.

Athletes foot isnt serious, but sometimes its hard to cure. However, if you have
diabetes or a weakened immune system and suspect that you have athletes foot,
you should call your doctor immediately.
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Part 3 of 10

What Causes Athletes Foot?

 Athletes foot occurs when the tinea fungus grows on the feet. You can catch the
fungus through direct contact with an infected person or by touching surfaces
contaminated with the fungus. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments and
is commonly found in showers, on locker room floors, and around swimming pools.

Part 4 of 10

Who Is at Risk for Athletes Foot?

Anyone can get athletes foot, but certain behaviors increase your risk. Factors that
increase your risk of getting athletes foot include:

visiting public places barefoot, especially locker rooms, showers, and swimming
pools
sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person
wearing tight-fitting, closed-toe shoes
keeping your feet wet for long periods of time
having sweaty feet
having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot

Part 5 of 10
 What Are the Symptoms of Athletes Foot?
There are many possible symptoms of athletes foot. You may experience one or
more of the following symptoms:

itching, stinging, and burning between the toes

itching, stinging, and burning on the soles of the feet
blisters on the feet that itch
cracking and peeling skin on the feet, most commonly between the toes and on
the soles
dry skin on the soles or sides of the feet
raw skin on the feet
discolored, thick, and crumbly toenails
toenails that pull away from the nail bed

Part 6 of 10

How Is Athletes Foot Diagnosed?

A doctor may diagnose athletes foot by the symptoms alone or may order a skin test
if they arent sure if a fungal infection is causing your symptoms.
 A skin lesion potassium hydroxide (KOH) exam is the most common test for athletes
foot. A doctor scrapes off a small area of infected skin and places it in potassium
hydroxide (KOH). The KOH destroys normal cells and leaves the fungal cells
untouched so they are easy to see under a microscope.

Part 7 of 10

How Is Athletes Foot Treated?

Athletes foot can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal
medications. If OTC medications dont successfully treat the fungal infection, your
doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications.
Your doctor may also recommend home treatments to help clear up the infection.

OTC Medications
There are many OTC topical antifungal medications, including:

miconazole (Desenex)
terbinafine (Lamisil AT)
clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra)
tolnaftate (Tinactin)
 Prescription Medications
Some of the prescription medications your doctor may prescribe for athletes foot
include:

topical, prescription-strength clotrimazole or miconazole

oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole
(Diflucan), or prescription-strength terbinafine (Lamisil)
topical steroid medications to reduce painful inflammation
oral antibiotics if bacterial infections develop due to raw skin and blisters
Home Care
Your doctor may recommend that you soak your feet in salt water or diluted vinegar
to help dry up blisters.

Alternative Therapy
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been used as an alternative therapy for
treating athletes foot with some success. A scientific study published in the August
2002 issue of the Australian Journal of Dermatology reported that a 50 percent
solution of tea tree oil effectively treated athletes foot in 64 percent of trial
participants.
Ask your doctor if a tea tree oil solution can help your athletes foot. Tea tree oil can
cause skin dermatitis in some people.

Part 8 of 10

Complications
Athletes foot can lead to complications in some cases.

Mild complications include an allergic reaction to the fungus, which can lead to
blistering on the feet or hands. Its also possible for the fungal infection to return
after treatment.

There can be more severe complications if a secondary bacterial infection develops.

If this is the case, your foot might be swollen, painful, and hot. Pus, drainage, and
fever are additional signs of a bacterial infection.

Its also possible for the bacterial infection to spread to the lymph system. A skin
infection could lead to lymphangitis (infection of the lymph vessels) or lymphadenitis
(infection of the lymph nodes).

Part 9 of 10
 Long-Term Outlook
Athletes foot infections can be mild or severe. Some clear up quickly, and others last
a long time. Athletes foot infections generally respond well to antifungal treatment.
However, sometimes fungal infections are difficult to eliminate. Long-term treatment
with antifungal medications may be necessary to keep athletes foot infections from
returning.

Part 10 of 10

Prevention
There are several things you can do to help prevent athletes foot infections. These
include:

wash your feet with soap and water every day and dry them thoroughly,
especially between the toes
put antifungal powder on your feet everyday
dont share socks, shoes, or towels with others
wear sandals in public showers, around public swimming pools, and in other
public places
 wear socks made out of breathable fibers, such as cotton or wool, or made out of
synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your skin
change your socks when your feet get sweaty
air out your feet when you are at home by going barefoot
wear shoes made of breathable materials
alternate between two pairs of shoes, wearing each pair every other day, to give
your shoes time to dry out between use
Facts on Jock Itch

Jock itch is the popular name given to an itchy rash in the groin that commonly involves the inner thighs and adjacent
skin, including the scrotum in males. The medical name for rash in the creases of overlapping skin is "intertrigo." Jock itch
is associated with sweating, friction/abrasion, occlusive clothing, and the direct rubbing of skin on skin. The rash may
affect not only the groin, but it can involve any areas of skin that overlap, including around the anus and in the skin folds
of obese individuals. Jock itch affects men and occasionally women worldwide.

Major risk factors include the following:

Heat

Humidity

Tight clothing

Damp skin folds that may occur with obesity or excessive sweating

Although several microorganisms have been identified as causing the rash, many cases are noninfectious and are
induced by environmental and physical factors that irritate the skin. Other skin diseases may mimic jock itch. They include

psoriasis,
 allergic contact dermatitis,

hidradenitis suppurativa,

dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis).

What Causes Jock Itch?

Although the term jock itch implies some sort of relationship with athletics, this is not necessarily true. Jock itch is
particularly related to infections from microorganisms and environmental factors such as humidity and friction, which can
irritate the skin. Jock itch is more common in men than in women simply because the presence of male genitalia leads to
increased friction and humidity. Women are actually predisposed to develop a similar condition underneath their breasts.
Jock itch is most often caused simply by noninfected skin affected by friction, humidity, and heat. However, it is not
uncommon for microorganisms like fungi and bacteria to simultaneously infect the skin.

People taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, those with weakened immune systems, or those who have diabetes are at risk to develop the
rash.

Occasionally, bacteria can cause jock itch. Bacterial jock itch can be easily diagnosed because the affected skin glows a coral red color
when illuminated by a black light.

Wearing tight clothes or athletic supporters can predispose one to infection or aggravate the problem further. Jock itch can be prevented
by applying large amounts of lubricant, like petroleum jelly, to areas likely to be affected.

Intimate contact or contact with objects that harbor fungus can contaminate the groin skin. The fungus is spread by contact with the
spores, which may survive on dead skin cells or objects for a long time.

If you have fungal infection, such as athlete's foot, the same organism may cause a rash in your groin.

o Infections caused by Candida albicans (a yeast) can produce pustules and involve the tip of the uncircumcised penis. This
infection is seen more often in people with diabetes.

o Fungal molds like the Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophytin species are occasionally responsible for the epidemic
infections in dormitories, barracks, and similar situations in which people live close together and in which towels, sheets, blankets, and other
items may harbor a fungus for years.
 Continue Reading

Vaginal Yeast Infections - Topic Overview

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VAGINAL YEAST INFECTIONS

Topic Overview

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 Other Treatment

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What is a vaginal yeast infection?

Yeast is a fungus that normally lives in the vagina in small numbers. A vaginal yeast
infection means that too many yeast cells are growing in the vagina . These
infections are very common. Although they can bother you a lot, they are not usually
serious. And treatment is simple.
What causes a vaginal yeast infection?

Most yeast infections are caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans.

A healthy vagina has many bacteria and a small number of yeast cells. The most
common bacteria, Lactobacillusacidophilus, help keep other organisms-like the yeast-
under control.

When something happens to change the balance of these organisms, yeast can grow
too much and cause symptoms. Taking antibiotics sometimes causes this imbalance.
The high estrogen levels caused by pregnancy or hormone therapy can also cause it.
So can certain health problems, like diabetes or HIV infection.
What are the symptoms?

A yeast infection causes itching or soreness in the vagina and sometimes causes pain
or burning when you urinate or have sex. Some women also have a thick, clumpy,
white discharge that has no odor and looks a little like cottage cheese.

These symptoms are more likely to occur during the week before your menstrual
period.
How is a vaginal yeast infection diagnosed?

It's easy to guess wrong about a vaginal infection. See your doctor if you aren't sure
what you have or if this is the first time you have had these symptoms. Also see your
doctor if you are pregnant. Your doctor may want to do a vaginal exam.
How is it treated?

If you have had a yeast infection before and can recognize the symptoms, and you
aren't pregnant, you can treat yourself at home with medicines you can buy without a
prescription. You can use an antifungal cream, or a suppository that you put into your
vagina, or antifungal tablets that you swallow.

If your symptoms are mild, you may want to wait to see if they clear up on their own.
Yeast infections are common during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, don't use medicine
for a yeast infection without talking to your doctor first.

Candida (fungus)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Candida.

Candida

Candida albicans at 200X

magnification

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Fungi

Division: Ascomycota
 Class: Saccharomycetes

Order: Saccharomycetales

Family: Saccharomycetaceae

Genus: Candida
Berkh. (1923)

Type species

Candida vulgaris
Berkh. (1923)

Candida is a genus of yeasts and is the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide.[1] Many species are
harmless commensals or endosymbionts of hosts including humans; however, when mucosal barriers are disrupted or the immune system
is compromised they can invade and cause disease.[2] Candida albicans is the most commonly isolated species, and can cause infections
(candidiasis or thrush) in humans and other animals. In winemaking, some species of Candida can potentially spoil wines.[3]
Many species are found in gut flora, including C. albicans in mammalian hosts, whereas others live as endosymbionts in insect hosts. [4][5]
[6]
Systemic infections of the bloodstream and major organs (candidemia or invasive candidiasis), particularly in immunocompromised
patients, affect over 90,000 people a year in the U.S.[7]
The genome of several Candida species has been sequenced.[7]
Antibiotics promote yeast infections, including gastrointestinal Candida overgrowth, and penetration of the GI mucosa.[8] While women are
more susceptible to genital yeast infections, men can also be infected. Certain factors, such as prolonged antibiotic use, increase the risk
for both men and women. People with diabetes or impaired immune systems, such as those with HIV, are more susceptible to yeast
infections.[9][10]
Candida antarctica is a source of industrially important lipases.