Do you also have a fungal infection? (Fungal Infections / Mycosis) Let's find out exactly about this!

Have you ever noticed a small red spot on your skin, something like a rash, that you might itch, or a nail that suddenly changes color and becomes thick? Maybe you have a white coating in your mouth. These are the common symptoms of a fungal infection, or as doctors call it, ``Mycosis``, which we are going to talk about today. Don't worry, let's talk about this in detail.

What are Fungi?

Simply put, fungi are a group of organisms that are neither plants nor animals. Think of things like molds and yeasts. They live naturally in the environment and inside our bodies, for example in our mouths, gastrointestinal tracts, and skin. However, sometimes problems arise when they get too big. These fungi spread by releasing their tiny seed-like parts, which we call ``spores,'' into the environment. Although there are millions of species of fungi in the world, very few cause disease in humans.

What does a fungal infection look like on the outside?

If you have a fungal infection on your skin, it may become red, swollen, and look like small blisters . Sometimes it can even look like a rash. Think about it, sometimes you get red, itchy skin between your toes or in your groin area, right? It's very likely a fungal infection. If you have a nail infection, your nails may turn yellow, brown, or white, become thick, and break easily . If you have an infection in your mouth or throat, you may see white patches or spots inside your mouth .

Who is most likely to develop fungal infections?

In fact, anyone can get a fungal infection, especially on the skin and nails. They are most common in areas where there is a lot of moisture and where the skin touches each other (for example, armpits, groin, under the breasts). However, some people are at higher risk, especially for more severe infections:

• If you have circulatory system problems (e.g. poor blood circulation to the legs).
• If you are suffering from Diabetes Mellitus .
• If your immune system is weak , it could be due to:
• `(HIV/AIDS)` status.
• Cancer or cancer treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy).
• If you are taking medications that suppress the immune system (e.g., immunosuppressant medications for autoimmune conditions, or after organ transplants or stem cell transplants).

Can a fungal infection be serious?

Most of the time, common fungal infections of the skin or nails are not serious . However, as mentioned earlier, if your immune system is weak, some fungal infections can lead to serious complications . Therefore, it is not a good idea to ignore even a minor one.

What types of fungal infections are there?

We can divide fungal infections into three main types, that is, depending on where the infection is located:

1. Infections that occur on the surface of the skin, nails, or mucous membranes (e.g., mouth, throat, vagina) (`Superficial fungal infections` or `mucocutaneous infections`)

2. Infections under the skin (`Subcutaneous fungal infections`)

3. Infections in the internal organs of the body (e.g. lungs, brain, heart) (`Deep fungal infections`)

Now let's look at each of these types in a little more detail.

1. Superficial fungal infections

These are the most common fungal infections we see.

• Ringworm (dermatophytosis): This is not actually a worm, but a fungus. This fungus lives on the cells of the skin, hair, and nails. It can appear on your feet (`(tinea pedis)` or `(athlete's foot)`), your groin and inner thighs (`(tinea cruris)` or `(jock itch)`), your scalp (`(tinea capitis)`), your hands (`(tinea manuum)`), your beard and the skin around it (`(tinea barbae)`), and anywhere else on your body (`(tinea corporis)`). Think about it, isn't this condition called `athlete's foot` common among people who play sports sometimes? Also, some people get an itchy, red rash in the groin area, which can be `(jock itch)`.
• Nail Fungal Infections (Onychomycosis): These infections can occur on your fingernails or toenails, caused by various types of fungi. The nails become discolored, thick, and brittle .
• Candida infections (Candidiasis): A type of yeast called ``Candida'', especially the type ``Candida albicans'', usually lives in our bodies without any problems, but sometimes it can grow excessively and cause infections. Examples:
• White patches in the mouth (oral thrush). You probably know that this happens to small babies.
• Some types of `(diaper rash)`.
• Vaginal yeast infections (vaginal yeast infections or vulvovaginitis).
• Candida infections of the esophagus (`(esophageal candidiasis)`).
• Candida infections (`(candidal intertrigo)`) that occur in skin folds and sweaty areas.
• Tinea versicolor / pityriasis versicolor: A condition caused by a fungus called `(Malassezia)` that causes skin discoloration and spots. Some people get these spots that are white, while others get brown.

2. Subcutaneous fungal infections

These occur when fungi enter the body through a skin wound or cut. For example, it could be something like a thorn prick while gardening. These can cause skin rashes, ulcers, and other symptoms. These infections are more common in tropical and subtropical regions.

Examples:

• Sporotrichosis (rose gardener's disease): Caused by the fungus `(Sporothrix).` It can affect the lungs or other parts of the body.
• Chromoblastomycosis: Can be caused by various types of fungi. This causes a long-term (chronic) infection of the skin. Rarely, it can spread to other parts of the body.
• Eumycetoma: Caused by various types of fungi. Most commonly affects the feet.

3. Fungal infections that occur in the internal organs of the body (`Deep fungal infections`)

These are infections that occur not on the skin, but inside the body, in places like the lungs, blood, urinary tract, and brain. Some of them are also called "opportunistic infections." This means that they don't usually cause illness, but can easily infect someone with a weakened immune system.

Examples:

• Histoplasmosis: A fungus called Histoplasma can infect the lungs, brain, or other parts of the body.
• Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever): A fungus called Coccidioides can infect the lungs and, rarely, other parts of the body.
• Blastomycosis: The fungus `(Blastomyces)` infects the bones, skin, and lungs. Rarely, it can also affect the brain and spinal cord.
• Aspergillosis: A type of mold called Aspergillus can cause various lung infections, such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. It can also infect other parts of the body or form a fungal mass (aspergilloma) in the lungs.
• Candidal urinary tract infection: Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria, but some are also caused by yeasts such as Candida.
• Invasive candidiasis: This condition is caused by various types of Candida. It can infect the heart, blood (candidemia), brain, eyes (endophthalmitis), bones, or other parts of the body.
• Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP): This pneumonia condition is caused by a fungus called `(Pneumocystis jirovecii)` that infects the lungs.
• Mucormycosis: This is caused by a group of fungi called mucormycetes. These can infect the sinuses and brain (rhinocerebral mucormycosis), the lungs (pulmonary mucormycosis), the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal mucormycosis), and the skin (cutaneous mucormycosis). Sometimes it can spread to several parts of the body at once (disseminated mucormycosis).
• Cryptococcosis: This is caused by the fungi `(Cryptococcus neoformans)` and `(Cryptococcus gattii)`. Although it most commonly infects the lungs, it can sometimes affect the brain and spinal cord, causing `(cryptococcal meningitis).`

What are the symptoms of fungal infections?

Symptoms of fungal infections vary depending on the type and location of the infection . Symptoms are most often seen on the skin, nails, mouth, throat, or vagina. Sometimes, symptoms of infection can also occur in the lungs, brain, eyes, intestines, or sinuses.

Symptoms of infections on the surface of the skin or under the skin:

• Itching, pain, redness, or a rash in the affected area.
• Discoloration, thickening, or breakage of nails.
• Pain when eating, loss of taste, or white patches in the mouth/throat .
• A painless lump under the skin.

Symptoms of fungal infections in the lungs:

• Cough, possibly with phlegm and blood.
• Feeling tired, exhausted (`(Fatigue)`).
• Fever.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Muscle pain.
• Joint pain.
• Headache.
• Night sweats.

Symptoms of fungal infections in other parts of the body:

• Brain infections: headache, fever, neck pain, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion.
• Eye infections: eye pain, redness, discharge, blurred vision, tearing, sensitivity to light.
• Infections of the intestinal system: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
• Infections of the sinuses: fever, stuffy nose, headache, swelling on one side of the face, facial pain.

What causes fungal infections?

Yeasts, molds, and other fungi are the cause of these infections. Most fungi do not make people sick, but some do. Some infections, as mentioned earlier, are `opportunistic`. That is, they usually cause no problems, but they take advantage of situations, such as when the immune system is weakened, to cause infections.

Some common types of fungi that cause infections:

• Dermatophytes: These are a group of fungi that depend on a substance called ``keratin`` found in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin. They do not infect living tissue.
• Candida: Candida albicans is a type of yeast that lives naturally in our bodies without causing any problems. However, under certain conditions, it can overgrow and cause itching, redness, and other symptoms. Rarely, it can cause serious infections.
• Environmental fungi that live in soil or water: Examples include `(Histoplasma)`, `(Coccidioides)`, `(Blastomyces)` and `(Aspergillus)`.

How do these fungal infections spread?

There are several common ways that fungal infections are spread:

• From damp public places. For example, public bathrooms and locker rooms at gyms.
• Through a wound or cut in the skin.
• By inhaling fungi from the environment (e.g., soil, dust).
• Due to taking antibiotics. Because when antibiotics kill the good bacteria in our bodies, some fungi can multiply out of control.
• Some dermatophyte infections can be spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal.

Are fungal infections contagious?

Some superficial fungal infections, such as ringworm, can be spread from person to person through direct contact . Studies show that Pneumocystis jirovecii infections can also be spread from person to person. However, deeper infections, such as fungi that are inhaled into the lungs from the environment, are not usually contagious.

How do you recognize a fungal infection?

How your doctor diagnoses a fungal infection depends on where it is in your body. He or she may look for signs of the fungus on these things, or try to `culture` the fungus:

• Samples taken from the skin or other affected tissue.
• A piece of nail (`nail clipping`).
• Blood sample.
• Sputum sample.
• The fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (`CNS fluid`).
• Urine sample.
• Eye secretions.
• Vaginal discharge.

If your doctor thinks you have a fungal infection in your lungs, brain, or other internal organs, he or she may also order X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to look for signs of infection.

How are fungal infections treated?

Many fungal infections can be treated with antifungal medication . These medications kill fungi inside and outside your body. The type of medication your doctor prescribes will vary depending on where the fungus is located.

Although some treatments can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription, it is best to consult a doctor before treating a fungal infection.

What medications are used for treatment?

To treat a fungal infection, your doctor may prescribe antifungal treatments like these:

• Oral medication.
• Intravenous medications (`IV medications`). These are given directly into a vein in a doctor's office or hospital.
• Lotions, creams or powders.
• Mouthwash or lozenges.
• Eye drops.
• Types of shampoo.

How to reduce the risk of fungal infections?

To avoid various fungal infections, it is important to maintain good personal hygiene and protect yourself from fungi in the environment. Follow these tips to prevent fungal infections:

• Always shower after sweating or getting dirty. Do not leave wet areas of your skin exposed.
• Do not walk barefoot in public bathrooms, showers, or changing areas at gyms.
• Wear clean, dry, cotton underwear.
• Keep your teeth and mouth clean.
• If you wear contact lenses, clean them as directed by your eye doctor.
• Keep your nails short and clean.
• Antibiotics should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor. Taking antibiotics for too long can cause yeast to overgrow in the body and cause infections.
• Do not share sports equipment, towels, or other personal items with others.
• When working with soil, wear protective clothing such as gloves, boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts . If you are in an area where harmful fungi are common in the environment, wear an N95 respirator mask to prevent breathing them in.
• If you live in an area with harmful fungi in the soil, wear a face mask during dust storms, or stay indoors with windows closed.

What happens if there is a fungal disease?

What you can expect when you have a fungal infection depends on whether you have other underlying conditions, and where in your body the infection is. Fungal infections of the hair, skin, and nails are usually not serious , but they can take some time to fully resolve with treatment. Deep fungal infections of the lungs or other internal organs can be life-threatening, especially if your immune system is weak.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have symptoms of a fungal infection, especially symptoms involving the lungs or other internal organs, be sure to see a doctor. If you are treating a fungal infection, don't forget to see your doctor again if it doesn't go away.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

• What caused this infection? What should I do to prevent this in the future?
• How can I prevent this infection from spreading to others?
• When should I see you again?
• How do you use this medicine?
• How long will it take for me to recover?

Things you should remember from this article (Take-Home Message)

Fungi are everywhere. In fact, some types of fungi live naturally on our bodies without us even thinking about them. So, it's no surprise that we'll get a fungal infection at some point in our lives. Most of them can be cured with treatment.

The most important thing is to talk to your doctor about how you can protect yourself if you have a weakened immune system or are at risk for severe or long-term infections.

Also, if you notice any unusual changes in your skin or nails, it is very important to seek medical advice without ignoring them.

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