So what is a yeast infection? This is a disease caused by fungi, the number of which is very large. Today there are more than 200 different species of mushrooms. Where does fungus live and how does a person get infected?
Fungi are widespread in the environment. They live in the soil, on plants, live on animals, and there are even species of saprophytic fungi that happily coexist with us, i. e. live on human skin. Fungi pathogenic to humans that affect the skin are called dermatophytes, and the disease is called dermatomycosis.
Infection can occur in 2 ways: direct infection through contact with soil, plants, sick animals or sick people; indirect - contact with various things and objects used by the patient, also through animal care products.
Why do fungal infections occur?
Susceptibility to fungal infections is determined by many factors: weather conditions (summer), the condition of the immune system, the condition of the skin, and the presence of concomitant diseases. Age, gender and professional factors are also important. More often, of course, the manifestation of the disease occurs in the summer, after returning from the sea, where the hot and humid climate prevails, accompanied by increased sweating.
These factors are particularly suitable for the introduction of pathogenic fungi and for the transition of saprophytes to pathogenic flora.
What are the types of fungal infections?
There are mainly 4 groups of fungal diseases:
They are relatively superficial, because they affect the stratum corneum and hair cuticle, without causing an inflammatory reaction and do not affect the appendages of the skin (hair, nails). The most common disease of this group is pityriasis versicolor, or pityriasis versicolor. It is manifested by the appearance of cafe-au-lait spots, especially on the chest, back, and shoulder girdle.
This is a large group of fungal diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails. The most common disease from this group is athlete's foot, or foot mycosis. This disease is very common among the adult population - about 80% have this disease.
A big role in the prevention of fungal diseases is played by shoe treatment, manicure and pedicure scissors treatment with special antifungal agents, in the form of solutions and sprays.
It is also important to combat excessive sweating on the skin of the feet, if necessary. For treatment, depending on the severity.
The course and level of the process using local and systemic antifungal therapy.
In recent years, modern methods have been successfully used in the treatment of fungal nail disease (onychomycosis) - laser treatment of onychomycosis.
Prevention of fungal diseases
Fungal diseases, also known as mycoses, are infectious diseases caused by pathogenic fungi.
Fungal infections can affect different types of organs. In this case, the symptoms can be very different, depending on which organ is affected and the type of fungus. There are many types of fungal infections, but the forms that affect the skin and nails are the most common. Mycoses are contagious and spread from person to person.
Fungal diseases can appear in any part of the human body: on the trunk, on the limbs, on the scalp, on the palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet, between the fingers, in the groin, and even on the face.
If a fungal disease is detected in one family member, all family members should be carefully examined, and if it is a child, then they should also take care of the sick child. It is also necessary to carefully check the presence of fungal diseases, children who enter orphanages, nurseries, schools and similar institutions.
It is very important to check school students before leaving and after arriving from summer camp.
If you suspect the presence of mycosis, you should consult a dermatologist and get tested for fungus. Before consulting, it is better to cut your hair short, this makes it easier to recognize mycosis.
With the slightest suspicion of a fungal disease in a child, he should be prohibited from attending school or kindergarten. Immediately after confirmation of the diagnosis, treatment must begin; in any case the patient is not allowed to come into contact with a healthy child.
Every object touched by the patient may be contaminated and pose a risk of transmission of infection or re-infection to the patient himself. Each such item must be disinfected or destroyed. Clothes are disinfected in a vapor-formalin or vapor-air chamber. Bed linen is disinfected by boiling for 20 minutes.
Prevention of fungal diseases in hairdressing salons, baths and showers should be carried out periodically, at intervals of no more than 3 months. Metal objects should be thoroughly disinfected with dry heat, other objects in the vapor-formalin chamber.
Prevention of mycosis disease in animals is very important, due to the fact that people are often infected with trichophytosis and microsporia from animals.
It is necessary to establish clean yards and veterinary inspection services on collective farms.
People who have been in contact with sick animals are advised to observe hygiene rules and monitor the condition of their skin, as it can be a source of further spread of infection, both among humans and among animals.
Cats and dogs can be carriers of fluffy microsporum, which is the source of disease microsporia. Animals suspected of carrying a fungal infection must be transferred to a special veterinary institution, but they must not be left alone because they will spread the infection. But there are also known cases when the carriers are mice and rats.
Preventive measures are necessary to reduce the possibility of infection of healthy people, so as not to turn them into carriers of fungal infections. Systematic disinfection of premises is one of the most important things in the prevention process. It is carried out with a five percent chloramine solution, then everything is washed with a five percent soap solution.
Fungal skin lesions
Fungal skin infection is a fairly common disease. Can affect any part of the body. To avoid disease, hygiene and sanitation rules must be followed. Treatment of fungus is a complex process, so do not delay your visit to the doctor.
Preparations for the prevention of foot fungus
Foot fungus is an infectious disease accompanied by the appearance of blisters, peeling, itching, cracks, etc. To avoid this disease, you need to keep your feet clean and use antifungal medication.
Skin fungus treatment
Skin fungus, or mycosis, often occurs in people with a weakened immune system. Affecting the skin, the disease often becomes chronic, reducing the body's ability to resist. There are different types of mycosis, treatment must be carried out individually.
Fungal diseases of the male genital organs
A separate type of male disease is a fungal disease of the male genital organs, which is characterized by a specific transmission - exclusively through sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to your health and do prevention.
Prevention of fungal diseases. Methods for primary prevention of mycoses
To avoid fungal infection, you must follow a few rules:
- Maintain personal hygiene. Any contact in public places should end with hand sanitisation. To do this, just wash your hands thoroughly or use an antiseptic solution.
- Public places should be visited with caution. Saunas, toilets, showers and bathrooms are "breeding grounds" for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora. Avoid contact with surfaces in the area.
- Avoid contact with infected people or animals. This also applies to objects used by patients.
The first sensation of discomfort on the skin or its appendages should not be ignored. It is better to see a specialist who will determine the cause and be able to prescribe the right treatment.
The cause of the development of foot mycosis
Mycosis of the feet is a skin lesion caused by a parasitic fungus. A very common disease among the population. The surface of the foot and back, the interdigital space, and the nails are involved.
The causative agent is the fungus Trichophyton, which has two types. The first is red trichophyton, the second is interdigital. The last type is the most common. According to the WHO, up to 30% of the population of developed countries suffer from dermatomycosis on the skin of the feet. This is associated with the constant wearing of shoes, as a result of which the best conditions are created for the development of foot fungus.
Causes of mycosis
Infection is transmitted mainly through contact - through personal items and household items. Stimulated skin particles, which are contaminated with spores of pathogenic strains of fungi, are a direct source of infection for others.
Microorganisms multiply most intensively in a moist environment. Walking barefoot in public places - baths, saunas, showers - creates the prerequisites for mycosis infection.
Getting micro-cracks, abrasions and diaper rash on human skin, spores grow into thread-like fungal bodies - mycelium. It penetrates deep into the epidermis, creating lesions.
The causes of the development of mycosis are:
- reduce immunity due to chronic diseases;
- diabetes;
- varicose veins, thrombophlebitis;
- age over 60 years.
These factors reduce the protective function of the skin, opening access for pathogens to penetrate. At risk are metallurgists, miners, military personnel and athletes - anyone who, due to duty or due to working conditions, is forced to constantly wear waterproof and vapor-proof shoes.
Intrafamilial mycoses of the feet are common. Being close to infected family members is the shortest route of transmission of dangerous fungal diseases.
Symptoms of fungal infection
Fungal disease on the feet is indicated by various signs of skin destruction. Depending on the nature of the skin damage, forms of mycosis are distinguished:
- Deleted. The surface of the feet peels off, diaper rash appears between the toes. Itching is minor. Patients often do not pay attention to this matter, consider fungal symptoms as irritation, or use ineffective home treatment methods.
- Squamous-hyperkeratic. This form is also called "moccasin foot" because of the rough and thick sole skin, covered with cracks. Damage to the skin is noticeable - it peels off on a large scale, the color is gray-yellow. There is pain when walking, an unpleasant smell. This disease most often affects older people.
- Wet (vesicular, dehidrotic). Its peculiarity is the formation of small pink bubbles, which merge over time into large bubbles. The disease starts with the arches of the soles of the feet, then spreads to the entire foot and toes. When the bubble bursts, it forms an erosion focus. The skin is swollen and itchy.
- Intertriginous. Characterized by damage to the interdigital space. The skin becomes loose, wet and swollen. Severe itching and burning appear. Over time, deep and painful cracks form, interfering with normal walking.
- spicySevere form of mycosis. It is characterized by fever, inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes, swelling of the legs and feet. Legs become covered with blisters containing serous-purulent contents. After opening it, weeping erosion forms, causing severe physical suffering to the patient.
Pathogenic fungi, eating the cells of the human body, release toxins that poison the body. The protective function of the skin and general immunity is reduced. Lesions are an open door for bacterial and viral infections. Fungal treatment is a necessary condition to maintain normal health and well-being.
Diagnosis of foot mycosis
Diagnosis and treatment of fungal diseases on the feet are carried out by dermatologists and mycologists. The determination of the type of fungus is carried out by laboratory methods - examining tissue samples under a microscope. The culture method to determine the type of pathogen is to place the inoculated material in a nutrient medium. At the same time, the causes of mycosis are being determined. Conduct tests for HIV, blood sugar levels, STDs.
Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. This can be monotherapy or complex treatment using external agents and tablets.
How to treat athlete's foot
Ringworm treatment is successful when patients take medications and procedures responsibly. Modern drugs have a heart-friendly effect and effectively destroy the mycelium of pathological forms of fungi.
For the wet form of the fungus, the wound is first dried using a solution of potassium permanganate, brilliant green, iodine or boric acid. In the treatment of this type of mycosis, drugs containing corticosteroids are indispensable. "Moccasin feet" are cleaned of the keratin layer by wrapping with salicylic acid. They soften rough skin, which is easy to clean after the procedure.
Treatment with folk remedies for foot fungus
Homemade formulations in the form of:
- foot bath;
- ointment;
- lotion;
- compress.
- decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.
Bathing takes 15-20 minutes. The solution is prepared by adding acid - acetic, boric, or a mixture of salt and soda. They soften the stratum corneum well. After the procedure, dry the feet and lubricate with birch tar. After an hour and a half, remove the remaining medicine with a napkin. Course - from 3 to 5 times. Onions and garlic in the form of compresses disinfect the surface of the feet well. Used in a mixture with oil. For small skin lesions, a decoction of oak bark, celandine juice, lemon, and essential oil of tea tree or fir is effective.
Important. Folk remedies have no contraindications, but their use is most effective in combination with drug treatment.
As a result of foot mycosis
Like any infectious disease, tinea pedis affects the cells of the human body. Penetrating into the thickness of the skin and eating its components, the mycelium grows into the epithelial layer. This is not realized for the body. Local and general immunity decreases. Allergic reactions may occur and asthmatic manifestations may intensify. Bacterial and viral infections seep into open wounds. Fungal infections can be accompanied by more severe diseases.
Important. Foot mycosis poses a danger both to the dermatophyte carrier and to its immediate environment. People with poor health are most susceptible to fungal diseases. It is necessary to cure the fungus to protect yourself and others.
Prevention of foot fungus
The main preventive measures should be aimed at:
- avoid contact with possible sources of fungal infection;
- maintain personal hygiene;
- maintain a healthy lifestyle;
- chronic disease treatment.
If signs of foot mycosis appear, you should see a specialist doctor and carry out the prescribed treatment. If preventive measures are taken, cases of the return of fungal diseases on the skin of the feet are quite rare.
Fungal infections in the body: symptoms and treatment
The human body is inhabited by many viruses, fungi and bacteria. All of these microorganisms can be beneficial, opportunistic, or pathogenic. Moreover, the last two types do not cause harm as long as a certain balance is maintained between the microorganisms
Fungal infection
The human body is inhabited by many viruses, fungi and bacteria. All of these microorganisms can be beneficial, opportunistic, or pathogenic. Moreover, the last two types do not cause harm as long as a certain balance is maintained between the microorganisms.
The greatest danger is represented by fungi - microorganisms that can cause damage to a person's skin and internal organs. There are about 500 species of fungi that cause mycosis in humans. What fungal infections can cause serious illness in people, and what treatment methods are used to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms?
A type of fungus
All fungi that can live in the human body are divided into several types:
- yeast;
- moldy;
- domiphoric.
Fungi are multicellular
Yeast lives in the human body, becoming part of its microflora. They belong to opportunistic species, because they do not pose a threat to health, provided that the balance is maintained. All other types of fungi are pathogenic and pose a real threat to human health and life.
Fungi can multiply on the surface of the skin and nails, and inside the body. However, healthy people, as a rule, are not affected by fungal infections, because they are destroyed by the cells of the immune system. Therefore, the most favorable conditions for the functioning of fungi are created in the body of people with weak immunity.
Features of mycosis of the skin
The skin very often suffers from fungal infections. Moreover, it does not spare women, men, or children. These diseases are divided into several main groups:
- athlete's foot;
- dermatomycosis;
- sporotrichosis;
- candidiasis;
- trichophytosis.
Athlete's foot is a fungal disease caused by a fungus of the genus Epidermophyton. It most often affects men. With athlete's foot, not only the top layer of the skin is affected, but also the nails.
There are two forms of this disease:
- athlete's foot inguinal;
- athlete's foot
Dermatomycosis is a whole group of fungal skin infections that affect every fifth person on the planet. In this case, mycosis can develop not only on the skin, but also in internal organs.
Sporotrichosis is a chronic fungal disease caused by fungi of the genus Sporotrichium. Infection occurs through contact with grass, shrubs, soil, street dust and even food. In this case, the skin and subcutaneous tissue are most often affected. Mucous membranes and internal organs are rarely exposed to fungi.
Candidiasis is caused by yeast fungi of the genus Candida. These microorganisms are part of the healthy microflora and perform important functions in the human body. However, when favorable conditions are created, Candida fungi begin to actively multiply, disrupting the bacterial balance, which leads to the development of candidiasis. Most often, candidiasis or thrush appears in the vagina in women and in the mouth in children.
Cause of fungal infection
The development of fungal infections is facilitated by contact with the source of the fungus. For example, their spores can be in the air, on floor surfaces or in bird droppings. At the same time, to reproduce, fungi need a special environment, which is created when the protective functions of the body are reduced.
Although athlete's foot can affect anyone, there are certain populations that are most susceptible to the disease.
This includes:
- people who have undergone organ transplant surgery;
- cancer patients, as well as people who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy;
- people with diabetes and lung disease.
Fungus can grow on the surface of the skin. But the favorite places for dislocations are skin folds, the bends of arms and legs, that is, all places where there is high humidity and body temperature. Mycosis can spread to small areas, such as between the fingers or toes. But some fungi are able to infect the inner layer of tissue. If mycosis develops in the lungs, it enters the bloodstream, which leads to damage to internal organs.
Coccidioidomycosis
This disease is caused by a fungus of the genus Coccidioides imitus, which lives in the soil. This microorganism is commonly found in the driest regions of America, Africa and Mexico. It enters other countries along with goods supplied from these countries.
Signs of coccidioidomycosis
The first symptoms of this disease resemble ARVI and the inflammatory process in the lungs and bronchi. The presence of fungus is indicated by the following signs:
- slight increase in body temperature;
- shivering;
- Headache;
- feeling tired;
- general weakness of the body.
Later, these symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath and dry cough. A few weeks after the pulmonary manifestation of the disease, the patient develops a skin rash in the form of papules or nodules that look like warts.
Histoplasmosis
This disease is caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which most often affects the lungs. In some cases, the fungus spreads to other organs, which if not treated leads to the death of the patient. People with AIDS are susceptible to the disease because of their weakened immune system.
Signs of histoplasmosis
The acute form of the disease is most often asymptomatic, which complicates diagnosis and delays the start of treatment. In severe cases, patients experience the following symptoms:
- increase in body temperature to 40°-41°C
- chills followed by heavy sweating;
- severe headache and muscle pain;
- chest ache;
- dry cough;
- general weakness.
If not treated, the disease becomes chronic.
Features of the treatment of fungal infections
The treatment of any fungal infection involves the internal administration of antimycotic drugs, as well as symptomatic therapy to improve the patient's general condition. In severe forms of the disease, drugs are given intravenously. The duration of treatment depends on the type of fungal infection and the severity of the disease. In general, it ranges from 1 to 3 months. In addition, patients are given drugs that strengthen the body's immune system.
Preventive measures
Fungi are dangerous microorganisms that are difficult to destroy. Therefore, any infection is easier to prevent. First of all, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, which will allow it to fight any pathogen independently.
It is also recommended to comply with the following rules:
- take care of personal hygiene, wash your hands before eating, after every visit to the toilet and public places;
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly;
- animal feed must undergo prolonged heat treatment;
- eat rationally, minimizing the consumption of simple carbohydrates and sugar;
- monitor weight;
- take antibacterial drugs and hormones only as prescribed by the doctor;
- use a condom during sexual intercourse.
It is very important, if you find some signs of a fungal infection, to see a doctor and undergo a full body examination.
Modern dermatology has several antifungal drugs that are harmful to fungi and non-toxic to the human body. They exist in various dosage forms: for local and systemic use.