Fungi
They are parasites that live on living or dead organic matter. Scientists classify fungi according to their appearance under the microscope and in the samples of agriculture, and also according to the method of reproduction, whether sexual or non-sexual. The growing fungus contains branching filaments called fungal filaments, forming the so-called alfalfa, while some fungi are divided by cross walls known as barriers.
The articular spores are made from parts of the fungal filaments, separated from them at the barriers. Non-sexual spores (or so-called gibbers) consist of a specialized thread called quinidophor. The stage of sexual reproduction is unknown in many fungi, and these are the missing fungi and include those that infect humans. Yeast is a subtype of fungus, characterized by clusters of circular or oval cells. These cells emerge in a way that sprouts other cells similar to them to divide and multiply, and in some circumstances form a series of cells called pseudostasis.
Types of fungal infections
Inflammation from fungi can be divided into the following:
- Surface fungal infections : This type affects the outer layers of skin, hair, and nails. The types of fungi that cause it are:
- Ringworm.
- Yeasts such as Candida and Melasma.
- Mold.
- Subcutaneous fungal infections : This type includes inflammation of the inner layers of the skin, and may include bone, and the organisms causing it usually live in the soil and survive the waste. A person is injured in the case of a wound in the skin contributed to the introduction, but usually remain stationed at the place of entry. The causative species include the following:
- Mycetoma.
- Tomato sputum.
- Systemic fungal infections : This type of inhalation may produce spores that live in soil or organic waste, or are infected by people with immunodeficiency as an opportunistic disease.
People who are most susceptible to fungal infections
It is possible that a person may have fungal infections, as fungi are present in the surrounding environment, and people are constantly exposed to fungus or spores without getting the disease. Therefore, people who suffer from immunodeficiency are more susceptible than others to the infection of skin fungi, and this category includes all of the following:
- People living with HIV / AIDS.
- Patients with organ transplantation. Taking antiretroviral drugs that increase the chances of the body receiving the new organ and lessens immunity, it becomes more susceptible to skin infections.
- Cancer patients: The cancer patient should consult a doctor in this regard. Being exposed to chemotherapy and radiation to kill cancer cells will weaken his immunity and make him vulnerable to various types of infections, including skin fungus.
- Patients admitted to the hospital: Although the presence of the hospital aims to improve the patient, but there is a possibility to get infections, especially if the state of health is poor, or was suffering from a disease that reduces immunity. Also, despite efforts by health workers to prevent infection, certain procedures and procedures may increase the chance of infection, such as catheterization and various surgical procedures. This condition is known to be related to health care.
- Stem cell transplantation: The incidence of skin fungal infections in these patients increases because stem cells first destroy the immune system and then reconstruct it.
- People taking immunosuppressive drugs: Patients may take certain drugs that reduce the body’s immunity as a side effect. Two types of drugs cause a lack of immunity:
- Corticosteroid: A drug used to treat arthritis, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.
- TNF inhibitors: These drugs are given to patients with autoimmune disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
Treatment of skin fungus
For the treatment of skin fungus several methods, including:
- General procedures :
- Reduce the factors that increase the chance of fungal infections as much as possible.
- Keep the affected area of the skin clean and dry, wash it daily, make sure to dry the area between the toes and the skin folds, and be careful to use a special towel.
- Clean the bathroom and shower with a bleach.
- Wash socks, towels and bathrobes at a temperature of at least 60 o C.
- Use of antiseptics: It is recommended to use tablets containing discoanlium chloride to reduce oral candidiasis, as well as the use of diaiodohydroxyquinyl vaginal vaginal Candida.
- Minimize the chance of recurrent skin infections : Spores of fungi live for a long time, so it is likely to recur. To minimize this opportunity, it is advisable to:
- Do not share towels, bedclothes or clothes with anyone.
- Avoid walking barefoot, especially in public swimming pools, changing rooms.
- Avoid wearing the same clothes for a long time, as well as avoid wearing tight clothes like long nylon socks.
- Wear open shoes when possible, avoid wearing tight shoes, such as rubber boots for a long time.
- Use anti-fungal foot powder containing cyclopirox, econazole, or miconazole, and others, and sprinkle them inside the shoe.
- In the case of animal fungal infections, the infected animal should be identified and treated.
- Topical antifungal agents : These drugs often treat skin fungus, and it is possible to use a lot of topical preparations such as creams without prescription. These preparations are used twice daily for the affected area for two weeks for four weeks, including part of the healthy skin. And often need to be used frequently. This type of treatment includes several drugs including benzoic acid, indicellinic alkanoids, cyclopirox alamine, nystatin, amidazolez and others. Including special preparations for each type of skin fungus according to the affected area, there is what is dedicated to the scalp, and nails, and the mouth, and the vagina.
- Oral antibiotics for fungus : These drugs are used in many cases, such as a severe fungal infection, if you do not respond to topical medications, or if you have an area covered with hair. These drugs are interaconazole, ketoconazole, and fluconazole, and are also used for both fortonazole and bucconazole only for the treatment of severe candida.