Fungual Infections

Fungal infections are any disease or condition you get from a fungus. They usually affect your skin, hair, nails or mucous membranes but they can also infect your lungs or other parts of your body.

Risk Factor

There is an increased risk of contracting ringworm and other tinea infections if a person:

• Is malnourished
• You have a weakened immune system.
• Has poor hygiene
• Lives in a warm climate
• Has contact with other people or pets that have ringworm
• Is immunocompromised by disease or medicine
• Plays contact sports, such as wrestling
• Uses communal baths or locker rooms

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of fungal infections depend on what kind of fungal infection you have and where on your body it is.

Symptoms of superficial or subcutaneous infections

Symptoms of superficial or subcutaneous infections can include:

• Itching, soreness, redness or rash in the affected area.
• Discolored, thick or cracked nails.
• Pain while eating, loss of taste or white patches in mouth or throat.
• A painless lump under your skin.

Symptoms of fungal infections in your lungs

Symptoms of fungal infections in your lungs include:

• Cough, sometimes coughing up blood.
• Fatigue (tiredness).
• Shortness of breath.
• Muscle aches.
• Joint pain.
• Night sweats.

Other symptoms of fungal infections

Symptoms of fungal infections in other parts of your body include:

• Fungal infection in or around your brain:Headache, fever, neck pain, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion.
• Fungal infection of your eye: Pain, redness, discharge, blurred vision, tearing, sensitivity to light.
• Fungal infection of your intestinal tract:Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
• Fungal infection of your sinuses:Fever, nasal congestion, headache, one-sided facial swelling, face pain.

DIAGNOSIS

Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. They might also take a sample from the affected area to look at under a microscope like sample from :

• Skin or other affected tissue.
• Nails (nail clipping).
• Phlegm (sputum).
• Fluid around your brain and spinal cord (CNS fluid).
• Urine
• Fluid from your eye (secretions).
• Vaginal discharge.

If your health care provider suspecting  that you have a fungal infection in your lungs, brain or other internal organ, they might get X-rays, MRI or CT imaging to look for signs of infection.

TREATMENT

To treat a fungal disease, your provider may prescribe antifungal treatment in the form of:

• Oral medication (pills).
• IV medication, given to you at a doctor’s office or hospital directly into a vein.
• Lotion, cream or powder.
• Mouthwash or lozenges.
• Eye drops.
• Shampoo

PREVENTION

Maintain good personal hygiene and protect yourself from fungus in the environment to lower your risk of fungal infections. Methods for preventing fungal infections include:

• Shower after getting dirty or sweaty. Don’t let areas of your skin stay damp.
• Don’t walk barefoot in public bathrooms, showers, or locker rooms.
• Wear clean, dry, cotton underwear.
• Take care of your teeth and mouth.
• Clean and use contact lenses as directed by your eye care provider.
• Keep your nails short and clean.
• Only take antibiotics as prescribed. If you take antibiotics for too long, yeast can overgrow in your body and cause an infection.
• Wear protective clothing, like gloves, boots, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when working with soil. Wear an N95 mask to avoid breathing in harmful fungus if you live in an area where it’s commonly found.

OUT LOOK

• Fungi are everywhere around us; in fact, some types of fungus stay naturally on our bodies .
• As a result, it’s not surprising that many of us will contract a fungal infection at some point in our lives.
• The majority of them are treatable.
• If you have a weakened immune system or are at risk for serious or long-term infections, consult your healthcare provider about how you can protect yourself.