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Fungal infections are the major health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. Fungal infections are often neglected and can pose serious risks to ones well being. Exploring the nuisance of fungal infections becomes...
Fungal infections are a major health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. Fungal infections are often neglected and can pose serious risks to one's well-being. Exploring the nuisance of fungal infections plays pivotal role in healthy life.
Fungal infections are caused by various types of fungi. The fungus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, nails, mouth and genital areas.
There are millions of fungi in the world. They live in every possible place on the earth like plants, animals, household surfaces, food, dirt and also in skin. The fungi may cause skin problems like rashes or bumps. The most common fungal infections of the skin are - athlete's foot, jockitch, ringworm, and candidiasis.
Types of Fungal Infections
There are so many types of fungal infections like-
Superficial Fungal Infection
Superficial infections spread through direct contact with infected individuals and contaminated surfaces.
Common types of superficial fungal infections are:-
Athletes Foot
Affect the skin between the toes which causes itching, redness and scaling
Ringworm
It is the most common fungal infection that affects the skin. Symptoms of ringworm include a red, circular rash on the skin or scalp.
Candidiasis
Commonly affect the mouth and genital areas. Symptoms of candidiasis may vary according to the location and generally cause discomfort and itching.
Nail Fungus
Fungal infections affect the nail causing them to thick, discolored and brittle.
Cutaneous Fungal Infections
Fungal infection of the cutaneous tissue which primarily affects the skin, hair and nails.
Causes of Cutaneous Fungal Infections
- Direct contact with the infected individual or surface
- Weak immune system
- Excessive sweating or humidity
- Poor hygiene
- Sharing personal items like towels or combs
Symptoms of Cutaneous Fungal Infections
- Itching and redness
- Scaling or flaking of the skin
- Rashes and bumps
- Discolorations of the skin or nails
Systemic Fungal Infections
This is a major health concern because it affects all most every part including the lungs, bloodstream and other internal organs.
Most common type of fungus that affects the systematic conditions are: - Aspergillus and Cryptococcus.
Symptoms of Systemic Fungal Infections
Signs and symptoms of systematic fungal infection may vary depending on the affected part.
Symptoms may include:-
- Fever
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Pain and discomfort
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory problems
- Vaginal discharge in case of genital fungal infections
How to Diagnose Fungal Infections?
A physical examination and a discussion of your symptoms are the first steps in the diagnosis of a fungal infection. In order to identify the type of fungus causing a fungal skin infection, your doctor may take a skin scrape, a hair sample, or a nail clipping for laboratory analysis.
Your doctor might take a sample of your body fluids if you have fungal infections in other parts of your body. These fluids could include:
- Blood
- Vaginal discharge
- Sputum is your respiratory system's mucus.
- Urine test
- Culture test
- PCR
- Cerebrospinal fluid test
Your doctor might occasionally remove a biopsy (tissue sample) from the afflicted organ. An X-ray, CT scan and MRI can be used to assess the extent of tissue damage in cases of fungal masses in the respiratory system.
What is the Best Treatment for Fungal Infections?
Treatment options of fungal infection may vary according to the extent of infections. Anti-fungal medications form the backbone of fungal infection treatment.
Consult healthcare professional for best treatment that look at your medical history for previous fungal or any other health-related issues and medicines. They will examine the infected site and may take a sample for further evaluation to make the correct diagnosis. Treatment of yeast or fungal infections is prescribed based on the severity. Minor fungal infections can be treated via topical antifungal creams. While severe fungal infections may be corrected through –systematic anti fungal drugs, surgeries or other complex treatments.
Protect Your Health With Ganesh Diagnostics
Fungal infection may occur due to various types of fungi and this is one of the most common cause irritated skin. Dead keratin, the protein that makes up your skin, hair, and nails, is where fungi attack and grow. Different groups of fungi are responsible for the different types of fungal diseases. Ringworm, nail infections, athlete's foot, and other fungal skin infections are some of the most common ones. Systematic infections are very lethal so prevention is best cure.
What Are the Risk Factors of Fungal Infections?
The following situations increase the risk of fungal infections:
- Overweight
- Not thoroughly drying off your skin after washing or showering
- Going barefoot in the shower and other damp areas
- Damp socks or tight-fitting shoes
- If a pregnancy were to occur
- If your immune system is compromised
- In case you have diabetes
- If an animal or person with a fungal infection comes into contact with you.
- Because of a recent antibiotic regimen
- Immunocompromised patients
- Certain medications increased the susceptibility of fungal infections
- Patient with hospitalization especially on the ventilator
How to Prevent Fungal Infection?
You can take the following precautions to avoid fungal infections:-
- Dry skin properly after washing
- Avoid sharing combs, towels, or hairbrushes as they may be contaminated with fungi.
- If a family member has a scalp ringworm infection, hats, pillows, combs, or scissors should be soaked in bleach and water.
- Every two or three days, switch up your shoes to give them enough time to dry out.
- Wear loose clothing made of cotton or other breathable materials to keep moisture off your skin.
- Regular washing of socks, bedding, and clothing is necessary to stop the growth of fungi.
- In shared spaces and damp locations such as saunas, swimming pools, showers, etc.
- Diabetes patient should control their Sugar level
Tips to Control Fungal Infection at Home
Home remedies can be helpful in managing the mild fungal infections. Natural tea tree oil has anti fungal properties.
Additionally vinegar may aid in restricting the fungal; growth. Garlic also has anti-fungal properties
By maintaining proper hygiene. However for severe fungal infections than you should consult with doctor or a dermatologist for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Choose Ganesh Diagnostic and imaging centre for all your diagnostic needs. We offer the following tests:-
- Antifungal Susceptibility Testing
- Fungal Culture Blood
- Fungal Examination
- Fungal examination routine
- Nail clipping for fungal infection
- Rapid fungal culture and sensitivity
- Skin scrapping for fungal infections
- Buccal or oral swab for fungal infection
- X-ray
- CT Scan
- MRI
At Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, we are known for providing excellent service and care to its patients for decades.
You can contact our customer executive 24X7 to know more about your test.
Stop Waiting and Visit the Ganesh Diagnostic & Imaging Center for Quicker Reports.
