Fungal Infection – General Information Fungal Infections are common medical conditions that are also generally referred to as mycoses. If a patient develops this type of disorder, it means that a certain type of fungi has managed to pass through the resistance barriers of his or her organism. The average Fungal Infection is generally caused by a special type of fungi known as a dermophyte. This form of fungus infects the patient’s skin’s top layer. However, the infection can also affect the patient’s nails, hair and so on. Most of the infections that are caused by fungi and that affect the patient’s skin are called ringworms. There are various forms in which the ringworm can affect a certain patient and each of them is caused by a different type of fungi. For example, the body ringworm is caused by tinea corporis, the condition called athlete’s foot is caused by tinea pedis, the nail ringworm is caused by tinea unguium, the jock itch is triggered by the infection with tinea cruris, the ringworm that affects the patient’s scalp is triggered by tinea capitis, and the infection of the beard by tinea barbae (a quite rare medical condition). In most clinical cases, an infection with a fungus is not very severe. However, if the disorder is left untreated, it can trigger some complications (more severe fungal or bacterial infection) that are more common in patients who suffer from immune system disorders (especially AIDS) and in elderly patients. Some types of fungi are known to reproduce through tiny spores that are found in the atmosphere. These spores can easily be inhaled by an individual. In other cases, the spores simply land on the patient’s skin. Fungal infections generally start on the patient’s skin or in the patient’s lungs. Fungal Infection – Symptoms The most common Fungal Infections are known to include: jock itch, athlete’s foot, scalp infections, nail infections and so on. Other types of infections called by fungi (especially by Candida) include vulvovaginitis, oral intertrigo, paronychia, diaper rashes, and even chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. If a patient suffers from a body Fungal Infection (the body ringworm that is caused by tinea corporis), he or she will present ring-shaped red or pink patches with a clear centre on his or her skin. The symptoms of this infection appear as a simple skin rash, with red or pink spots with a diameter of from one-half to one-inch. Patients who have already experienced jock itch know that the infection is located near the individual’s groin area. It appears as a ring-like, red rash. This particular infection triggers severe itchiness. Some patients who experienced this type of infection also presented painful, small, blisters. Athlete’s foot generally affects the patient’s toes (especially the skin between them). It seems an itchy, scaly rash. While in some clinical cases the patient only experiences mild irritation, other individuals complained of peeling and cracking. The affected skin becomes much more sensitive to bacteria (a bacterial infection can occur at any time) and it becomes sore. The ringworm that is located on the patient’s scalp generally causes scaly, itchy scalp that presents round patches without hair. It is a very contagious infection, especially among children. The ringworm that affects the patient’s nails is much more common on the individual’s toenails. The nail becomes dull and / or thickened. In some clinical cases, an infection caused by a type of fungus that affected one part of the individual’s organism can extend, causing a rash on another part of the patient’s body. This complication is quite common. Fungal Infection – Treatment In order to properly diagnose the presence of a certain type of Fungal Infection, your personal physician will carefully examine the area that seems to be affected (the area where the symptoms are present). In most cases, this simple eye check is enough to make a diagnosis (no further tests are needed). However, in some clinical cases, your personal health care specialist might want to take a small sample of the skin that seems to be infected. This is easily accomplished through scrapping of or swabbing some skin. The sample is then studied under a medical microscope. This is a simple way to determine whether the infection is indeed triggered by the presence of a fungus. In some cases, the Fungal Infection is a persistent disease, as some types of fungi are resistant to therapy (this means that they are hard to kill). In the case of patients who present either nail or skin infections caused by fungus, the best therapy option involves the applying of a certain type of medical product right on the affected skin area(s). In the case of patients who suffer from the most severe forms of Fungal Infections, oral anti-fungal drugs are another viable option. Most patients who present Fungal Infections on any skin area are prescribed to use a certain type of antifungal cream and / or ointment. After your personal health care provider has made your diagnosis, he or she will probably recommend you a proper medication that should keep your medical condition under control. Besides the drug therapy (prophylaxis), some other measures should help improve your medical condition (and should avoid the worsening of the disease). For example, most physicians advise their patients to keep the area that is infected dry and clean (as much as possible). Under no circumstances is the patient allowed to scratch (ask your physician to prescribe you an effective remedy against severe itchiness – the usual medication that is prescribed in order to ease this unpleasant symptom consists of a mild cortisone ointment and / or cream). Male patients who are suffering from jock itch should consider wearing rather loose fitting pants / shorts. Another important aspect of your therapy against any Fungal Infection consists in avoiding the use of soap (or detergent) on the affected skin area (on the rash), as this can easily worsen your medical condition (and its symptoms). The ringworm that affects the patient’s scalp effectively responds to a therapy with an anti-fungal medicine that is taken in orally. Special shampoos (that are available in most pharmaceutical locations) are also effective. Once the patient starts a therapy for his or her scalp condition, the infection is not contagious any more. Medicines that are associated with this medical condition (Fungal Infection) include: Amphotericin B, Micafungin, Fungizone, Mycamine, Amphocin, and so on.