Mycosis most often affects the feet and nails. Sometimes women are also infected with mycosis of intimate parts. But did you know that fungi can also attack your lungs, liver, and even your brain?
The organism is inhabited by billions of microbes. Among them are bacteria,fungi , protozoa - they are our natural flora. Some populate the oral cavity, others the digestive tract or vagina. Sometimes, for some reason, there is an imbalance between different types of microorganisms. Then some fungi begin to multiply rapidly. As a result, they irritate the tissues, leading to inflammation.tineadevelops, a disease that may be caused by local or systemic infection in the body. This usually happens with weakened immunity.
The source ofinfectioncan also be a sick person, animal, and infected objects. In this way, we get infected when we use public toilets, showers, and borrow sports shoes, a towel or a comb. People who go to swimming pools, sports clubs and all those who do not follow basic hygiene rules are exposed to mycoses transmitted in this way. The perpetrators of 60 percent fungal infections are yeasts from the Candida family, fungi from the dermatophyte family and molds.
Grzybica - beginnings
Infections are favored by decreased immunity as a result of taking antibiotics, steroids, immunosuppressants or oral contraceptives, as well as diabetes, avitaminosis (mainly lack of vitamin B), hormonal disorders, obesity, excessive sweating. The infection is more common for people who are exhausted and stressed. The most common are mycoses of the skin, e.g. of the feet, head, groin, nails, and mucous membranes, e.g. of the mouth, intestines and female organs. Depending on the place and type of infection, it may not cause any symptoms, then we find out about the disease by accident during a check-up, e.g. at a gynecologist. Other times, the sick areas itch, burn, may appear painful wounds, and the epidermis peels off. Symptoms tend to diminish spontaneously and recur. Therefore, temporary alleviation or resolution of symptoms is not a cure.
Although this type of infection is harmless, it should not be underestimated. Chronic or recurrent infection can spread to adjacent tissues, and inin extreme cases, attack distant organs, e.g. from the oral cavity to the sinuses or lungs, and from female organs to the urinary tract. Therefore, it always needs to be cured.
Organ mycoses
The real problem is mycoses of the lungs, liver, kidneys, brain (invasive, organ, deep) - they are difficult to recognize and hard to cure. They most often accompany diseases related to impaired immune system, mainly the circulatory system (leukemia, Hodgkin's disease) and AIDS. People who have undergone transplants, other surgical procedures and intensive chemotherapy are also at risk of infection.
Bone marrow transplantation destroys the immune system so that he althy cells can then take the place of cancerous cells. This is an opportunity for fungi, mainly yeasts, to colonize organs that would be impregnable for them in the case of a well-functioning immune system. Their natural habitat is the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, vagina, and the urethra. The mucosa, damaged by the disease or treatment itself, makes it easier for them to travel through the blood into the body. Mold spores, after entering the alveoli of people with normal immunity, are removed by macrophages, but when the immune system is dormant, they settle in the lungs. Invasive mycoses often resemble a viral or bacterial infection (fever, pain in the joints, liver, sinuses or dry cough), which makes it difficult to diagnose correctly.
Grzybica - recognition
In order to deal with fungi, you need to choose your therapy carefully. Treatment of mycosis in the dark is usually ineffective (fungi show different drug sensitivities). In order to confirm (or rule out) mycosis, determine the type of fungus causing the infection and choose effective drugs, it is recommended to perform a mycological examination (swab, epidermis, nail fragment, urine culture) before starting the treatment. X-rays, blood tests and a biopsy are sometimes needed.
Most infections can be de alt with quickly and effectively with topical (or orally) fungicidal drugs. Treatment lasts 7-14 days, sometimes several weeks cyclically. There is one condition: it must not be interrupted to avoid relapse. A few days after the end of the treatment, you need to do a culture test again to see if the fungi have been destroyed.
Overcoming deep infections is very difficult. First of all, the underlying disease should be treated, and fungal lesions second. Sometimes strong fungicidal preparations (injections or infusions) are enough, other times lesions in organs (so-called fungal cavities, mycelia) need to be removed surgically.Treatment of end organ mycoses requires a hospital stay.
Where does ringworm attack?
Nails : The nail plate becomes brittle, dull, pearl, yellow, green or brown streaks appear. Over time, the changes cover the entire surface. The nail splits, crumbles, cracks, thickens and rises when touched.
This will help you:Applying the reconstruction mass to the polished plate reduces air access, prevents disease development and facilitates drug absorption. A fungicidal varnish is applied to the sick nail. At the same time, you take general tablets (e.g. Orungal).
Private places:There are white discharge with the consistency of a lumpy cottage cheese and the smell of yeast. They are accompanied by burning sensation and itching. The labia may be red and swollen.
This will help you:Usually you apply vaginal candles and ointment at the same time. If the disease recurs, the doctor may recommend an oral preparation. The ointment must also be used by the partner to lubricate the penis to prevent recurrence of infection.
Feet:Most often the first changes appear between the last two fingers. The skin is red, cracks, itches. Sometimes there are tiny blisters on the sole. The skin on the bottom and side of the foot may keratinize, peel excessively.
This will help you:If spreading with tea tree oil cream or ointment is not enough or the infection spreads, the doctor will recommend a more powerful oral medication. After completing the treatment, boil the towels and disinfect the shoes.
Skin:There are red, itchy foci that gradually enlarge (you can notice a bran-like scaly skin at the edge), sometimes tiny blisters.
This will help you:You can treat the changes on your head with Nizoral shampoo. The infected places on the body must be lubricated with antifungal cream or ointment. It is worth using a fungicidal backfill. When this does not help, the doctor starts oral preparations.
Oral cavity:White coatings resembling curdled milk appear on the inside of the cheeks, tongue and palate. The mucosa is red underneath them, painful erosions form.
This will help you:You have to take fungicides and lubricate the sick areas with a special preparation, e.g. Aphtin liquid or Nystatin suspension . Rinsing the mouth with chamomile infusion will also bring relief. Eat chopped, chilled foods.
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