Types of Fungal Infections

Types of Fungal Infections
Fungi are multi-celled plants that are parasitic. For
example, most everyone realizes that a mushroom is a
fungus. In the human body, fungi that cause infections are
very small. There are beneficial fungi in the body, but
often the parasitic fungi cause unpleasant symptoms. Fungi
can be found on or in most parts of the body. Here are a
few of the common areas where fungal infections can be
found.

Skin Fungal Infections

The common types of skin fungal infections include
athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, face fungus and tinea
versicolor. The various types of skin fungi live on the
dead surface of the skin in the warm and moist areas of the
body. Both mold type and yeast type fungus can grow on the
skin. Probably the most common type of skin fungal
infection is known as athlete's foot. This infection is
more common amongst men than women and most often appears
between the fourth and fifth toes. Candida is also known
as a yeast infection and is common amongst women in the
vaginal area. It can also appear as tiny cuts and cracks at
the corners of the mouth. Treatment is by scrupulous
attention to skin care and use of an anti fungal cream.
Yeast infections are often helped by promoting the growth
of helpful bacteria in the intestinal tract.

Nail Fungal Infections

Fungal infections at the nail beds appear with pain,
swelling, pus and a nail that becomes white or yellow and
separates from the skin. This may be caused by injury to
the nail itself which allows the fungus to get between the
nail and the underlying skin. Another common cause of nail
fungal infections is ill fitting shoes that press the
toenails up and away from the nail bed.

Hair Fungal Infections

Hair fungal infections are often found in children and
should be treated aggressively to prevent permanent hair
loss. The symptoms include yellowish crusty areas,
abscesses, black dots on the scalp where the hair shaft is
broken off at the skin level, and inflammation. There may
also be dry scaly patches on the scalp. The lymphatic
system may be involved with swelling or enlargement at the
neck. Those with pets such as dogs or cats will sometimes
contract a fungus known as M. Canis causing scaly patches.
Treatment for hair fungal infection is through the use of
anti fungal shampoos. Orally, griseofulvin taken internally
for 8-10 weeks is recommended for adults.

Fungal infections in the lungs

The name aspergillosis refers to a fungal infection in the
lungs. The fungus is fairly common in air vents, compost
heaps and airborne dust. The fungus attacks the open space
found in the body. If a person has had lung diseases that
caused cavities in the lungs, the fungus may appear there
as a small ball of fungus fibers, blood clots and white
blood cells. The ball grows to fill the space and will
destroy lung tissue, but usually doesn't expand beyond the
lungs.

Fungal infections in the nervous system

Fungal infections which affect the central nervous system
are very serious. Examples are Cryptococcal meningitis and
histoplasmosis, Meningoencephalitus, a brain abscess or a
spinal epidural infection. These fungal infections must be
treated even more aggressively than the others due to the
impact on bodily functions. Ketoconazole is a recommended
treatment for fungal infections of the central nervous
system.

Thrush fungal infection

A fungal infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth is
commonly known as thrush. Oral thrush or Candida is a yeast
type fungal infection which commonly follows a change in
the chemical balance in the mouth so that Candida is
favored over the other micro-organisms in the mouth. This
is often due to taking antibiotics or chemotherapy. It can
also be a result of immune deficiency diseases such as
AIDS. Babies and those who wear dentures are particularly
at risk for thrush. It manifests as small white, yellow or
cream-colored spots in the mouth which can be scraped off,
leaving bleeding areas beneath. Treatment for oral thrush
involves treating the underlying cause, such as ill-fitting
dentures, adjusting diabetes treatment and sometimes oral
treatment using anti fungal medications. Lozenges or oral
suspensions are often utilized for localized treatment.

----------------------------------------------------
If you are suffering from Yeast Infection then check out
this site: http://www.cureyeastinfection.org