- "Fungal infection, also known as mycosis..."
Fungal infections that affect humans and animals as pathogens or opportunistic pathogens. Covers the different types of fungal infections that range from mild to severe.
Fungal taxonomy: Understanding the taxonomy and classification of different fungal species is important to better understand how they cause diseases and how to accurately diagnose them.
Fungal morphology: Knowing the size, shape, and structures of fungal cells and their various growth forms can help in the identification of fungi from clinical samples.
Fungal life cycle: Understanding the life cycle of different fungal species is important to know when and where they grow and how they transmit and infect hosts.
Host-pathogen interactions: Understanding how different fungal parasites interact with their hosts and how they cause diseases is crucial to develop targeted therapies and preventive measures.
Epidemiology: Studying the distribution, transmission patterns, and risk factors associated with fungal diseases is crucial to implement public health interventions and preventive measures.
Clinical manifestations: Knowledge of the clinical manifestations and symptoms of different fungal diseases can help identify and manage cases effectively.
Diagnosis and laboratory methods: Understanding the various laboratory methods for identifying and diagnosing fungal infections is crucial to making accurate diagnoses and developing appropriate treatment plans.
Antifungal therapy: Understanding the use and mechanisms of different antifungal agents is important for treating and managing fungal infections.
Control strategies and prevention: Learning about preventative measures and control strategies for fungal diseases, including vaccines, early detection, and environmental management, can help reduce the incidence and spread of fungal infections.
Emerging issues and trends: Keeping up with emerging issues and trends in fungal parasites and diseases, including new pathogens, drug resistance, and changes in epidemiology, can help inform future research and interventions.
Candidiasis: Candida is a type of fungus that commonly infects humans by overgrowing in warm, moist areas of the body such as the mouth, vagina, and skin.
Aspergillosis: Caused by the Aspergillus fungus, which can cause respiratory infections in humans and animals, especially those with weakened immune systems.
Histoplasmosis: Caused by inhaling spores of the Histoplasma fungus, found in soil, bird droppings, and bat guano.
Cryptococcosis: Caused by inhaling spores of the Cryptococcus fungus which affects the lungs and central nervous system.
Ringworm: A common fungal infection of the skin, hair, and nails, caused by several types of fungi.
Athlete's Foot: A fungal infection of the feet, particularly between the toes, caused by the tinea fungus.
Thrush: A yeast infection of the mouth or throat caused by the Candida fungus.
Valley fever: A respiratory infection that occurs in the Western United States due to inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus.
Blastomycosis: Caused by inhaling spores of the Blastomyces fungus, found in soil and wood debris.
Fusarium: A type of fungus that can cause infections in humans with weakened immune systems, particularly those with burns or other open wounds.
- "Different types are traditionally divided according to the part of the body affected; superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic."
- "Superficial fungal infections include common tinea of the skin, such as tinea of the body, groin, hands, feet and beard, and yeast infections such as pityriasis versicolor."
- "Subcutaneous types include eumycetoma and chromoblastomycosis, which generally affect tissues in and beneath the skin."
- "Systemic fungal infections are more serious and include cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, pneumocystis pneumonia, aspergillosis and mucormycosis."
- "Signs and symptoms range widely. There is usually a rash with superficial infection. Fungal infection within the skin or under the skin may present with a lump and skin changes. Pneumonia-like symptoms or meningitis may occur with a deeper or systemic infection."
- "Fungal infection occurs after spores are either breathed in, come into contact with skin or enter the body through the skin such as via a cut, wound or injection."
- "It is more likely to occur in people with a weak immune system. This includes people with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, and people taking medicines such as steroids or cancer treatments."
- "Fungi that cause infections in people include yeasts, molds and fungi that are able to exist as both a mold and yeast."
- "The yeast Candida albicans can live in people without producing symptoms, and is able to cause both superficial mild candidiasis in healthy people, such as oral thrush or vaginal yeast infection..."
- "Diagnosis is generally based on signs and symptoms, microscopy, culture, sometimes requiring a biopsy and the aid of medical imaging."
- "Some superficial fungal infections of the skin can appear similar to other skin conditions such as eczema and lichen planus."
- "Treatment is generally performed using antifungal medicines, usually in the form of a cream or by mouth or injection, depending on the specific infection and its extent."
- "Some require surgically cutting out infected tissue."
- "Fungal infections have a world-wide distribution and are common, affecting more than one billion people every year."
- "An estimated 1.7 million deaths from fungal disease were reported in 2020."
- "Several, including sporotrichosis, chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma are neglected."
- "A wide range of fungal infections occur in other animals..."
- "Some can be transmitted from animals to people."
- "Fungi, molds, and fungi that are able to exist as both a mold and yeast are the causative agents of fungal infections."