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fungal Infections

How Can Fungal Infections Affect The Lungs?

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A fungus is a tiny type of germ that usually doesn’t cause any problems. They are all around us. You can only see them with a microscope. But fungi can infect your lungs in some situations, particularly if you have other serious illnesses. It can be very serious and requires specialist care.

What are Fungal Infections?

Fungi infection

Fungi may cause lung disease through direct infection of pulmonary tissue, infection of pulmonary air spaces/lung cavities, or their ability to trigger an immunological reaction when fungal material is inhaled. The latter mechanism is involved in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergillus-induced asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to fungi.

Except for aspergillosis, these infections are usually not present to any significant degree in immunocompetent residents of the UK. They are more likely to affect those who have traveled abroad to areas where they are endemic or arise as opportunistic infections in patients who are immunocompromised due to oncological treatment due to immunomodulation following solid organ transplantation or HIV infection. Pulmonary infection occurs after inhalation of spores/conidia or by the reactivation of latent infection. Hematogenous dissemination of fungal infection leading to a systemic mycosis tends to occur chiefly in immunocompromised patients.

Types of Fungal Infections

  • Fungal nail infections
  • Vaginal candidiasis
  • Ringworm
  • Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus
  • Blastomycosis
  • Cryptococcus gattii infection
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis 
  • Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Aspergillosis
  • Canadida auris infection
  • Invasive candidiasis 
  • Candidiasis 
  • Cryptococcus neoformans infection 
  • Mucormycosis 
  • Talaromycosis 
  • Fungal eye infections 
  • Sporotrichosis
  • Mycetoma 

Signs and Symptoms of Fungal Infections

Symptoms of fungal infections can range from mild to very serious. The exact symptoms depend on the type of fungus that has caused the infection. Some common symptoms include:

Chest pain

Fungal infections can affect many parts of the body, including:

  • Hair
  • Skin
  • Lungs
  • Bloodstream
  • Brain
  • Gastrointestinal system
  • Vagina

Symptoms of fungal infections can mimic other conditions, so it’s important to consult your physician for a complete exam and diagnosis.

Treatment, Management, and Prevention of Fungal Infections

Antifungal medicines can kill a fungus. Or they may stop it from multiplying or growing. There are several classes of antifungal medications and different types of medicines. Your healthcare provider will select the best prescription medicine. Or they may guide you to an effective over-the-counter (OTC) treatment.

There are OTC and prescription antifungal medicines. Talk to your healthcare provider about what treatment to use.

Antifungals come in different forms, including:

  • Injections (shots) or IV
  • Oral pills or liquids
  • Topical (skin) creams, ointments, gels and sprays
  • Vaginal suppositories

Treatment length varies depending on the fungal infection. Some fungal skin infections like ringworm clear up in a few weeks. But clearing up some fungal nail, blood, and lung infections can take months or years.

Recommended medication used for fungal infection:

Antifungal medications treat fungal infections affecting skin, nails, lungs, and other organs. Some fungal infections clear up in a few weeks. Others may need months of treatment. Taking antifungal medicines for an extended period or failing to complete the prescribed treatment may lead to antifungal resistance.

Medication safety depends on the antifungal drug. Breastfeeding infants who develop thrush can get antifungal mouth drops. Their moms also need treatment, typically with an antifungal skin cream. Your healthcare provider can determine whether it’s okay for you or your child to take an antifungal medicine.

Side effects from antifungals vary. Results depend on the type of drug, dosage (strength), and fungus. You may experience the following:

Rarely, an antifungal drug may cause serious problems like:

  • Liver damage (jaundice)
  • Severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis
  • Severe allergic skin reactions, such as blisters and peeling skin
Scalp Ringworm

Symptoms and Causes of Scalp Ringworm

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Scalp Ringworm is also known as tine Capitis which is a rash caused by a fungal infection. It is usually itchy, scaly, and causes bald patches on the head. No worm is involved in Scalp Ringworm. Ringworm gets its name because of its circular appearance. 

This fungal infection is contagious. Scalp Ringworm is the most common among toddler and school-age children. Medications can help kill the fungus that causes the infection. Also, medicated shampoos may help keep a person from spreading the infection to others. 

red itchy patch on skin due to ring worm

Symptoms of Scalp Ringworm

Symptoms of Scalp Ringworm may include:

  • Tender or painful areas on the scalp
  • Brittle or fragile hair that can be easily broken or pulled out
  • Patches that slowly get bigger and have small back dots where the hair has broken off
  • One or more round, scaly or inflamed patches where the hair has broken off near the scalp 

If you have any hair loss, scaling or itchiness of the scalp, or other unusual appearance of the scalp, call your health care provider right away. 

Causes of Scalp Ringworm

Scalp Ringworm is caused by a common fungus called dermatophytes. Fungi are organisms that thrive on dead tissue such as hair, fingernails, and the outer layers of your skin. Dermatophytes prefer moisture and warmth, so they thrive on sweaty skin. Overcrowding and poor hygiene increase the spread of ringworm. 

Among children, ringworm can be easily spread. You can get ringworm from touching the skin of an infected person. If you use bedding, combs, or other objects that have been used by an infected person, you’re also at risk. 

Diagnosis for Hypersexuality

Diagnosis of Scalp Ringworm

  • Scalp Ringworm is diagnosed by its appearance and the results of an examination of a sample of plucked hairs or hairs and scales from the scalp. Doctors examine the samples under a microscope.
  • Sometimes a type of ultraviolet light is shined on the scalp to distinguish the type of fungus.
  • Doctors may also do a culture of the samples of material taken from a kerion. Culture is the process of growing an organism in a laboratory for identification. 

Treatment and Medication for Scalp Ringworm

Your doctor may recommend that you wash your hair with a prescription-strength medicated shampoo. The shampoo removes fungus spores and helps prevent spreading the infection to others or other areas of the body.

Also, treatment for Scalp Ringworm scalp requires a prescription-strength antifungal medication taken by mouth. These medications may include:

You might need to take one of these medications for six weeks or more until your hair regrows. Usually, with successful treatment, the bald spots will grow hair again and the skin will heal without scarring. 

Ringworm

Ringworm

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Ringworm is a common skin infection defined as a circular rash that is usually red and itchy. This infection goes by many names. The medical terms are tinea or dermatophytosis. Other names for ringworm are based on its location on the body.

You can catch it in any of the following ways:

  • From another person which the infection often spreads by skin-to-skin contact.
  • The fungus that causes ringworm can linger on surfaces, clothes, towels, and in combs and brushes.
  • If you’re working or standing barefoot in soil that’s infected with the fungus that causes ringworm, you can get it, too.

What Are The Symptoms Of Ringworm?

  • Patches that resemble a ring with deeper color on the outside
  • Patches with edges that are defined and raised
  • Overlapping rings
  • A round, flat patch of itchy skin
  • Patches that develop blisters or pustules
  • Itchiness
sweating

Ringworm Risk Factors

  • Sweat excessively
  • Have a weakened immune system
  • Wear tight shoes or clothes that chafe your skin
  • Have diabetes
  • Use public showers or locker rooms
  • Come in close contact with animals
  • Live in a warm, humid environment or climate
  • Participate in contact sports, like wrestling or football

How to Diagnose Ringworm?

Your doctor will diagnose ringworm by checking your skin. Depending on the type of fungus, it may sometimes fluoresce or glow under black light. Your doctor may confirm a diagnosis of ringworm by requesting certain tests:

  • If you’re getting a skin biopsy or fungal culture, your doctor will take a sample of your skin or discharge from a blister and send it to a lab to test for the presence of fungus.
  • If you’re getting a KOH exam, your doctor will scrape off a small area of affected skin onto a slide and place drops of a liquid called potassium hydroxide on it. The KOH breaks apart typical skin cells, making the fungal elements easier to see under a microscope.

Ringworm Treatment and Medication

Your doctor may recommend both lifestyle changes and medications to treat ringworm. Your doctor may recommend that you care for the infection at home by:

  • Drying your skin thoroughly after bathing
  • Washing bedding and clothing daily to help disinfect your surroundings
  • Wearing loose clothing in affected areas
  • Treating all affected areas
Clotrimazole Cream

Medications you can use for ringworm:

Some severe cases may be treated with oral medications. Before using any medications, it is important to consult your doctor first and get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Buy Clotrimazole

Clotrimazole Cream

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Clotrimazole Cream is an over-the-counter antifungal medication. It is prescribed for the treatment of skin infections caused by dermatophytes, yeast, molds and other fungi such as:

  • Ringworm (tines corporis)
  • Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
  • Fungal nappy rash (Candida Albican)
  • Sweat rash
  • Fungal infections of the groin like jock itch
  • For the relieve of external symptoms of vaginal thrush (Candida vaginitis)
  • Thrush infection of the penis or foreskin (Candida balanitis)

Clotrimazole cream works by killing the fungi and yeast that cause infections in the body. It interferes with the cell membrane so it won’t produce the enzyme ergosterol. This enzyme is necessary for the fungi and yeast to survive. The disruption in the production of this enzyme cause holes to appear in the cell membrane and kills the fungi.  

Why Buy Clotrimazole Cream?

Clotrimazole Cream is on the World Health Organization list of essential medicines. It’s one of the safest and most effective medicines needed in the health system. It is available as generic and brand names. The generic name is cheaper than the branded counterpart. Both versions have the same mechanism of action and efficacy.

How to Use Clotrimazole Cream?

Use Clotrimazole Cream as instructed in the package label or as directed by your physician. Apply a thin layer on the affected area of the skin two to three times a day. Rub the cream gently. Remember that a strip of cream about 0.5cm long is enough to treat an area of the skin about the size of a hand. In treating athlete’s foot and ringworm, use this cream for at least one month. For thrush infection, use the cream for at least two weeks. Continue using the cream after all the symptoms have cleared up to make sure the infection won’t come back.

Wash your hands properly after treating athlete’s foot. Before applying the cream, make sure that you have washed and dry your feet. Do not cover the treated areas.

Things to Remember

  • Do not Clotrimazole Cream on areas with:
  • Viral skin infections like chickenpox, genital herpes and cold sores
  • Untreated bacterial skin infections like impetigo
  • Acne vulgaris
  • Acne rosacea
  • Skin lesion due to tuberculosis
  • A skin with perioral dermatitis
  • Do not apply the cream on broken skin.
  • Fungal infections spread easily. Avoid sharing personal items like towels with anyone.
  • This cream is not absorbed through into the bloodstream in a significant amount. It is therefore not expected to affect other medications.
Buy Itraconazole

Treating Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm, Jock itch, Vaginal and Oral Thrush

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Itraconazole is a triazole antifungal medicine. It is approved by the U.S. food & drug administration (FDA) for treating various fungal infections. It is helpful in treating HIV infection. Fungal infections in the lungs are treated with Itraconazole.

How does Itraconazole work?

Itraconazole treats certain fungal infections. The cell membrane is very important for the growth of any cell. The drug prevents the production of certain substance necessary for fungal cell. This weakens the cell membrane of various yeast and fungi. Essential constituents of the fungal cell can come out of the cell. The cells die due to this & the infection clears.

What are the uses of Itraconazole?

Itraconazole is useful in the treatment of many fungal infections as given below.

  1. Fungal infection like athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch
  2. Vaginal Thrush
  3. Oral Thrush
  4. Infection caused by Aspergillus fungi
  5. Infection caused by Candida fungi
  6. Infection caused by Cryptococcus fungi
  7. Fungal infection of Nail
  8. Prevents fungal infection in AIDS people
  9. Prevents infections in people having low white blood cells count

How to take Itraconazole?

Itraconazole is available in the form of capsules of 100 mg. These are oral medicines. The length of the treatment depends on the following conditions.

  • Type of condition
  • The severity of the infections.

Swallow the capsule with a full meal or as directed by the doctor.General doses of Itraconazole is 200 mg, two times a day. The doctor may adjust the dose according to the conditions of the patient. The maximum dose is 400 mg a day. The daily dose is divided into 2 equal parts in a day.

What are the Precautions with Itraconazole?

It is important to be cautious while taking Itraconazole. They are as follows,

  • You should take a capsule after a full meal.
  • Take daily dose divided into 2 equal parts.
  • You should take it at the same time every day.
  • Avoid taking this capsule if you suffer from congestive heart failure.
  • Do not take it if you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant or Breastfeeding.
  • Inform your doctor if you take other medicines. This may reduce the risk of side effects.
  • Discuss with doctors if you have any of these conditions.
  • Liver disease
  • Lung disease.
  • Allergy to Itraconazole.
  • History of irregular heartbeat etc.

Cost of Itraconazole. [Generic & Brand]

The generic drug does not require research and development of the drug. So do not spend a lot of money on this. Direct sources of the raw material also decrease our cost. Other cost-saving measures also help us to sell generic medicines at cheaper rates. Buying in bulk also gives you more of benefit.

Cost of Itraconazole 100 mg capsule is $ 2.9 per unit. The pack of 10 capsules cost is $ 29.

Cost of Sporanox 100 mg capsule is $ 26.84 per unit. The pack of 10 capsules cost is $ 268.43.

You can compare the difference between the generic and brand version. So always go with generic.

Ringworm: Causes, Symptoms, Risk, Prevention & Treatment

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Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin. It is characterized by a red itchy rash that is circular in shape. It is also called dermatophytosis or tinea. This type of skin infection is contagious. It can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. The infection may affect the feet, scalp beard and the groin.

What are the causes of ringworm?

Ringworm is caused by a dermatophyte fungus. This fungus lives on the dead cells of your scalp, skin and nails. It  is commonly spread among children.

It can spread in the many ways:

  • Direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
  • Touching animals that are infected with fungus.
  • Contact with objects that an infected animal or person has touched.
  • Contact with infected soil.

There are three types of fungi that can cause infection.

  • Jock itch (tinea cruris) – Infection around the groin, buttocks and inner thighs.  It is most common in adolescent boys and men.
  • Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) -It appears as patches with “ring” shape. It affects different parts of the body.
  • Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) – It is common among school children. It appears as scaling bald spot on the scalp.

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

Ringworm symptoms include:

Skin

  • Raised patches
  • Red and itchy
  • Circular ring
  • Irregular edge
  • Scaly
  • Clear or scaly center

Nails

  • Thick nail
  • Discolored nail
  • Cracked nail

Scalp

  • Bald patches
  • Hair fall

Who is at risk for ringworm?

Anyone is at risk of developing ringworm. However, ringworm infection is common among children and people who owns pet. You may be infected with ringworm of the body if you:

  • Share personal belongings with an infected person
  • Wear tight clothing
  • Direct contact with an infected person
  • Live in a tropical climate.

How Is Ringworm Treated?

Ringworm can be treated using antifungal cream such as Clotrimazole (Canesten). Canesten prevents the growth of fungus. It can treat skin infections such as ringworm, jock itch and athlete’s foot.

 

Ringworm of the nails and scalp may require oral antifungal medicines like ketoconazole (Lotrimin) and terbinafine tabs (Lamisil).

Prevention tips

It’s difficult to prevent ringworm but there are ways to reduce your risk:

  • Do not share your personal belongings like towels, hair brush and clothing.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after touching your pets.
  • Disinfect pet areas.
  • Keep your skin clean.
  • Wear loose clothing.