Fungal Infection Treatment

Introduction

Fungal infections are more common in warm moist environments. Skin infections caused by fungus are more common in the moist areas of the body. To prevent any allergic reactions, one must keep the infected area clean and dry.
In medical terms, rashes causing fungus are called tinea, representing ring-shaped rashes on the skin. Tinea corporis denote fungal infection covering a more significant part of the body.

Symptoms

• • Itching
• • Redness
• • Swelling
• • Scaly Skin
• • Irritation
• • Blistering

Risk Factors

Risk factors for fungal infections include,

• • Immunocompromised patients
• • A prolonged course of antibiotics
• • Chronic alcoholic
• • In babies due to diapers
• • Individuals with Exessive sweating
• • During Pregnancy
• • Overweight & Obesity
• • Uncontrolled Diabetes

Types of Fungus

There are mainly four common types of fungal infections.

1. Athletes Foot

Athletes foot is also called tinea pedis. Fungal growth occurs in warm and moist environment and hence it is more common among athletes and sports players as the prolonged wearing of the socks and shoes leads to sweating and creates a favorable environment for the fungal organisms to grow leading to fungal infection of the foot. It can be of 3 different types, namely.

• Interdigital Infection

In this the infection is in between the toe fingers. The skin appears pale and can spread to the sole of the feet. There can be some cuts and wounds in between the fingers which most likely appears after vigorous itching.

• Moccasin

When the infection spreads to the entire sole of the foot or sides, it is called moccasin. It presents with itching and cracking of the skin in between the digits of the feet.

• Vesicular

It is characterised by small fluid filled blisters on the soles of the feet and this is the rarest form of athletes foot fungal infection.

2. Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infection are common in females. It is due to alteration in the normal bacterial flora in the vagina which leads to overgrowth of yeast and cause vaginal fungal infections. The causative organism is cadida albicans. The alteration in the normal vaginal flora could be due to stress, hormonal imbalances, antibiotics or due to eating disorders.

3. Jock Itch

Jock itch medically known as tinea cruris is a condition in which there is growth of fungal infection in the moist areas of the body like groin, buttock and upper medial part of thighs and more common during the summer season. It is advised not to share towels as this is contagious and thrives in the clothes and other things it comes in contact with.

4. Ringworm

Fungal infection caused on different parts of the body other than vagina and feets are ringworm infection. It is caused by the same organism which causes tinea cruris and tinea pedis. It is ringed shaped and that is why it is named ringworm.
It is highly contagious and can survive on surfaces of towel and anything it comes in contact with including soil. It can also tramit from person to person and hence it is advisable that you consult a dermatologist at the erliest to control the progression of infection and spread to others.

5. Oral Thrush or Candida Albicans

Oral thrush is a white patch of fungal infection occurring in mouth or on tongue. It is caused by candida albicans and are called oral candidiasis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Skin scrapping for KOH Preparation: A scrapping from the top of the rash is taken for KOH to confirm the presence of the hyphae.

Skin Biopsy for fungal Culture: A punch biopsy takes a skin sample from the affected area to identify a specific type of spores. It allows the doctor to prescribe a specific treatment tailored to that type of fungal spores for the best and most effective results.

Blood Test for severe rashes: In cases where the rashes are co-infected with bacterial organisms and fungal organisms, blood tests are required to check the severity and monitor the improvement in the treatment. Concomitant bacterial infections are common in people with weakened immune systems.

Treatment: Antifungal medications are advised after dermatologist consultation which depends on the type of fungi causing the infection. All treatments are as per American academy of dermatology guidelines. Dr.Shruti Gupta has completed her United States licensing exams and is a fellow member of AAD.

Conclusion

Fungal rashes are treatable with antifungal creams and generally do not threaten life. It can occur in any part of the body and embarrass oneself and others due to its excessive itchiness. Consulting a dermatologist helps treat the rashes and helps prevent future relapses by providing you with a list of precautions to keep you free from any fungal infections on any part of the body.

Disclaimer

This content spreads and creating awareness and educates people on fungal skin infections and should not be taken as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a dermatologist before using any medication. We now disclaimer the content that it is medically reviewed for educational purposes only.