Should we know exactly about antifungals?

Do you sometimes get white spots on your body that look like ' gray skin '? Or are you tired of a hairy problem that never goes away? Maybe one of your fingernails or toenails has turned yellow, become rough, and is breaking. Many of these things can be caused by a small organism that lives in our body, called fungus . So today we will talk about what these fungal infections are, and the medications given for them, namely antifungals .

Simply put, what are these antifungals?

Antifungals are a type of medication that doctors prescribe to treat fungal infections. Just as antibiotics are given for a bacterial infection, antifungals are given for a fungal infection. These medications do two things.

1. Completely killing the fungus that caused the infection.

2. Otherwise, it stops the fungus from growing and spreading inside the body.

However, the end result is to help our body get rid of that fungal infection.

So what is this 'fungus'?

Before we talk about fungicides, let's understand a little about what these fungi are. Fungi are tiny organisms that can be found anywhere in the environment around us. They can be yeast, mold, or a combination of both. They reproduce by producing tiny spores. These spores can be in the soil or floating in the air.

Think about it, some fungi are naturally present in our bodies. For example, a type of yeast called Candida . These live harmlessly in places like our skin, digestive system, and the vagina in women. But sometimes, when our body's immunity is low or for some other reason, these fungi start to multiply out of control. That's when infections occur.

Who is at higher risk of developing fungal infections?

In fact, anyone can get a fungal infection. The common things we see around us, like ringworm, eczema , and dandruff, are often not serious and can be easily treated.

However, for some people, these fungal infections can be very dangerous. Those are people with weakened immune systems .. Their bodies have a hard time fighting off even a minor fungal infection. We call these types of infections "opportunistic infections." That is, infections that take advantage of the body's weakness and spread to a serious extent. People at risk include:

• People with AIDS .
• People with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
• Cancer patients (especially those undergoing chemotherapy).
• People who have had organ transplants.
• People who have had bone marrow transplants (stem cell transplants).

A fungal infection like this can sometimes be life-threatening, so you need to be very careful about it.

What are the common and serious infections treated with antifungals?

The range of infections that can be treated with antifungals is very wide. They range from minor skin infections to infections that affect the brain. Let's break these down into two categories.

In addition to these, some fungal infections can affect the internal organs of the body, causing more serious conditions.

How does this medicine work inside the body?

Antifungals are not all the same. They are divided into several main categories based on how they work. Your doctor will choose the most appropriate medication based on the type of infection you have, its severity, and your health. Let's take a quick look at three main categories.

• Azoles: These are synthetic fungicides. They work by stopping the production of an enzyme that is essential for fungal cells. This means that the fungus cannot grow or reproduce. It's like killing a bass that needs to build a house. Example: `Fluconazole (Diflucan®)`.
• Echinocandins: These are a new generation of drugs. They work by directly attacking the cell wall of the fungus. Just like when you break down a wall in a house, it can't stay inside, when the wall is damaged, the fungal cell is destroyed. Example: `Micafungin (Mycamine®)`.
• Polyenes: These are naturally occurring antifungals. They work by attaching to the outer membrane of the fungal cell and creating holes in it. This allows the important substances inside the cell to leak out and the cell to die. Example: `Nystatin (Bio-Statin®)`.

What are the ways to get antifungals?

These medications come in different forms, depending on the location and severity of the infection.

• Topical: These come in the form of creams, ointments, gels, lotions, and sprays. These are most commonly used for skin and nail infections.
• Oral medications: These come in the form of pills or liquids. They are given for skin infections that have spread to other areas, such as the nails and hair.
• Injections/IV: These medications are given intravenously (IV) or as an injection for serious, systemic infections. These are given in a hospital setting.
• Vaginal suppositories: These are used to treat vaginal yeast infections.

Although you can buy things like some creams from a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription (Over-the-Counter - OTC), if the problem persists or occurs frequently, you should definitely see a doctor.

Are there any side effects?

Like any medicine, antifungals can cause some side effects. However, not everyone gets them. They also vary depending on the type of medicine and the dosage.

What is meant by fungi becoming 'resistant' to drugs? (Antifungal Resistance)

This is one of the most important topics we're talking about today. Antifungal Resistance is when a fungus becomes resistant to a particular antifungal drug. Simply put, the fungus has become 'addicted' to that drug, and has become 'stronger' than the drug. Then, that drug can no longer kill the fungus.

There are several main reasons why this happens:

• Stopping the medication before completing the prescribed period: The biggest mistake is to stop the medication as soon as you feel a little better. This leaves the strongest fungi that are not completely dead and adapt to the medication.
• Not taking the correct dosage: Not taking the medication on time or skipping doses can lead to insufficient drug concentration in the body, increasing the resistance of fungi.
• Unnecessary use of antifungals: Sometimes, antifungal creams are applied to something that is not a fungal infection. This can also expose the fungus to those medications and cause it to become resistant to them.