Today we propose to talk about the varieties of the fungus. This is the most common disease among the inhabitants of our planet. Surely many at least once in their lives have heard the term "mycosis", but what does it mean? A whole vast group of diseases that are caused by microscopic organisms adversely affect the human body. This can be a lesion of the skin (in this case, the disease is referred to as "dermatomycosis") or nail plates (the medical term "onychomycosis" is appropriate here).
Fungus is a common disease caused by a fungal infection. It should be noted right away that many of these microorganisms can live in harmony with a person and have a beneficial effect on the body. Others cause enormous harm to our he alth. It is very important to notice the symptoms in time and start treatment. How to recognize a fungus and get rid of it, you canlearn from this article. We will talk about the fastest treatment for nail fungus, consider traditional medicine recipes.
This problem is encountered by absolutely all people, regardless of gender or age. In order to "pick up" the infection, it is enough to try on someone else's shoes or walk barefoot in a public place.
Varieties
In total, two large groups of fungi are distinguished by their effects on the human body:
- Pathogenic. This category does not want to live in harmony with a person. Microorganisms are highly contagious and extensively affect different parts of the body (nails, skin, intestines, and so on). They need to be identified as early as possible, listen to your body's signals, and begin treatment immediately.
- Opportunistic pathogens. These are our helpers. Through the process of symbiosis, they support the proper functioning of the body as a whole. It is important to note that these mushrooms belong to the natural microflora.
Now let's briefly talk about the most common types of fungus. You can get all the information from the table presented in this section of the article.
Name | Distribution | Description |
Dermatophytosis | Spread to the scalp, legs, arms |
This fungus is pathogenic. This disease is also called ringworm or herpes zoster. Microorganisms love moisture, where they multiply. You can get it in public places (bath,sauna, swimming pool, etc.). Main symptoms: itching, scaling, redness, cracking or blistering |
Onychomycosis | Nail plates |
As a rule, only the edge of the nail plate is affected first, then the infection spreads down the nail. You can notice a thickening of the nail and surrounding skin, discoloration, crumbling. They can easily become infected in a nail salon if the tools have not been processed, and those who suffer from ringworm of the foot are also at risk. In total, there are three stages of nail fungus. The sooner this problem is detected, the easier it is to get rid of it. In this category, a very common remedy for fungus is “Oflomil Lacquer” |
Candidiasis | Oral cavity, intestines, skin, vagina | This is an opportunistic fungus whose reproduction is controlled by the immune system. If it is weakened, then a rapid spread begins, which can lead to some he alth problems |
Dermatomycosis | Exposed parts of the body (arms, legs, face) | Produces ring-shaped red rash. Very contagious, enough contact with a sick person. It is worth noting that the vectors can be sheep, cattle or domestic animals |
Cryptococcosis | Internal organs (usually lungs) | This opportunistic fungus only starts attacking whenlong-term low immunity. This problem often occurs in those who suffer from AIDS |
Trichophytosis | Hair part of the body | The causative agent is a fungus called Trichophyton. As a rule, this pathogenic fungus develops on the scalp (most often on the head). Sometimes it can even go to the legs |
Reason for appearance and ways of transmission
Fungus is a fairly common problem of mankind. Now we will try to deal with the question of how they can get infected. Let's start with why we are attacked by opportunistic fungal infections, because they are part of the human microflora. They are capable of causing harm only if the immune system is weakened and cannot restrain their reproduction. Candidiasis often develops in the following cases:
- infectious disease (there may be a problem both during treatment and at the time of recovery);
- stress;
- pregnancy;
- if you have taken or are taking antibiotics;
- when hygiene is not observed;
- bad food;
- having bad habits.
Now a little when infected with pathogenic fungi. The first stage of infection is the entry of spores into a he althy organism. This is possible in the following cases:
- direct contact with the carrier of the fungus or his thing (the method is called contact);
- through the mouth, often this occurs when breastfeeding (if the thrush has passed to the nipple,then the child will easily “pick it up”, the method is alimentary);
- there is a very large number of bacteria and spores in the air, it is worth taking a breath - they enter the lungs (as a rule, all these fungi are conditionally pathogenic, but if the body fails, they will shake the he alth, the method is air);
- with unprotected intercourse, even with a regular partner, infection is possible (men can have thrush for quite a long time, but it does not manifest itself in any way, that is, it is asymptomatic, the method is sexual).
Symptomatics
Symptoms depend on where the problem started. Since in this section we are considering general symptoms, we will divide all manifestations into two types: superficial infection and internal (that is, systemic). Fungus disease can be asymptomatic, but more often you can notice some of its manifestations. This information can be found in the table below.
Superficial infection | Systemic infection |
Itching, reddening of the skin, slow growth or hair loss, flaky skin, abnormal nail growth (crooked, too thick or thin), discharge (white, slimy, creamy or cheesy). | Cough that persists for quite a long time and does not respond to treatment with cold medicines; when an infection enters the bloodstream, a fever may begin; bloating, intestinal colic, diarrhea (these three symptomsthat you have intestinal candidiasis); if there is no appetite, you notice indifference or apathy behind you, then this also signals a possible fungal infection, since these symptoms occur with immunodeficiency. |
Skin lesion
Fungal infection often attacks human skin. Legs are at risk, especially for those who often visit public places (bath, sauna, pool, and so on). Never wear someone else's shoes, do not move barefoot in public places. Even on the beach, use rubber slippers. On the legs, the skin on the feet and between the toes, the structure of the nails are often affected. Symptoms may include:
- itch;
- skin redness;
- excessive sweating of the feet;
- less likely to form ulcers.
There are many effective remedies against fungus on the feet. The most popular are listed below.
- "Oflomil varnish" from nail fungus;
- "Exoderil";
- "Griseofulvin";
- Clotrimazole and other antifungals.
Often the fungus occurs on the head. Symptoms include severe itching, flaking, dandruff and hair loss. If you notice these manifestations, then you need to go to a specialist who will scrape and make a final verdict. This problem is treated with special shampoos, which include:
- Nizoral;
- Sulsena and others.
In addition, the use of drugs called "Miconazole" and "Clotrimazole" is recommended.
Hands are also notexception. Itching and peeling may appear, the skin begins to dry and crack. Less commonly, blisters and burning appear at the site of their formation. The fungus can go to the nails, so treatment should be started immediately when the first symptoms are detected. The following medicines will help with this:
- Lamisil;
- "Candide";
- Loceryl and others.
It is possible, in addition to purchased ones, to use folk remedies for the fungus, which we will talk about a little later.
Fungus in women
If we talk specifically about women, then in this case, the most common disease caused by a fungal infection is candidiasis. The causative agent of the infection is the Candida fungus, which is an opportunistic pathogen. The problem extends to the genitals. There are many causes of candidiasis, the main ones are:
- poor immunity;
- long-term use of antibiotics.
Briefly about the symptoms. A woman can discover:
- perineal itching;
- burning;
- discharge that has the consistency of cottage cheese or cream;
- sour smell.
If you find these symptoms, you should consult a gynecologist. An experienced specialist diagnoses this problem without tests, but it is recommended to take a smear. When the form is running, you will have to pass some more tests to exclude other diseases of the reproductive system.
Inexpensive remedies for fungus, but very effective and popular are: Flucostat, Miramistinand others. The attending physician must prescribe them individually for you. To fight the problem more effectively, you need to be treated together with your partner.
Fungus in men
Fungus on the genitals in men is much less common than in women. It can result from wearing synthetic underwear or from contact with an infected woman.
Symptoms include: itching and burning, white patches on the penis or discomfort during urination. If this problem is found, it is necessary to contact a dermatologist or venereologist, who will do a scraping and send it to the laboratory. If the fears are confirmed, then immediately begin treatment with Flucostat tablets or others, and Pimafucort cream.
Treatment must be comprehensive, and if there is a permanent partner, she also needs to consult a gynecologist and take drugs for candidiasis for prevention.
Mouth infection
What does a fungus look like in the mouth and how to recognize it? It is important to know that all people have Candida in their mouths, but when the immune system fails, they begin to multiply, which leads to the following symptoms:
- sour taste in mouth all the time;
- dry;
- formation of white plaque;
- appearance of sores;
- bad breath;
- possible itching and burning;
- the gums begin to bleed.
If you notice the dataproblems, then go for a consultation with a dermatologist or dentist. The doctor will take a scraping from the affected area.
Now about the ways to treat the fungus in the mouth. Fluconazole-based antifungal agents are used (for example, Flucostat). It is necessary to restore the microflora with Linex or Acipol.
Intestines
With prolonged use of antibiotics and reduced immunity, the fungus begins to attack the gastrointestinal tract. You can identify the problem with the help of fecal analysis, endoscopy or x-rays. Symptoms: flatulence and bloating, pain, feeling of heaviness and lack of appetite. It is also possible to find streaks, mucus or plaque in the stool.
Treatment is the same as for other types. It is necessary to take antifungal drugs (for example, Pimafucin) and restore the intestinal microflora (for example, Bifidumbacterin).
Ear fungus
Let's talk a little about what ear fungus looks like, what are the symptoms of the disease. This disease is called otomycosis and occurs only when:
- frequent cleaning of the ears (this is how the protective film is erased);
- skin injury;
- using other people's hygiene products.
Symptoms may include: discharge, pain, itching, burning, swelling, hearing loss, skin peeling, crusting. To identify the problem, it is necessary to undergo endomicroscopy and x-rays. You also need to take a scraping.
Treat this ailment by the following methods:
- washing with special solutions (for example, "Nystatin");
- tablets against fungal infection (e.g. Econazole);
- creams (for example, "Exoderil");
- drops for the ears (for example, Candibiotic).
Eye fungus
Fungus is a common disease that can develop on absolutely any organ, the eyes are no exception. Of course, this species is much less common, but it can cause a lot of inconvenience to a person. Eye fungus develops very slowly, but can cause great damage to the eyeball.
If a fungus has got on the mucous membrane, the following symptoms can be noticed:
- itching (both inside and outside);
- redness;
- discharge containing pus;
- formation of a fungal film, resulting in blurred vision;
- presence of eczema and so on.
For an accurate diagnosis of the problem, you need to go to an ophthalmologist. If a fungal infection is detected, he will diagnose "fungal conjunctivitis" and prescribe treatment:
- application of nystatin ointment during sleep;
- taking a course of an antifungal agent (for example, Flucostat);
- if the stage of the fungus is already running, then intravenous administration of "Amphotericin B" will be required.
Traditional medicine
In this section, we propose to discuss the most effective folk remedies for fungus. Let's start with the most common phenomenon - nail fungus. Helps get rid of itpropolis tincture. For two months, twice a day, lubricate the affected areas with these products. You will notice how a he althy strong nail will gradually grow. What to do with advanced nail fungus? Treatment at home and in this case is possible:
- baths with s alt and soda (one tablespoon of loose ingredients per liter of water, soak your feet for twenty minutes, and after the procedure, treat the affected areas with iodine);
- use celandine as nail polish or take baths (pour five tablespoons of herb with a liter of boiling water, leave for half an hour and pour into a basin of hot water, soak your feet daily for twenty minutes).
Don't forget to cut off affected nails. To get rid of the fungus on the legs, use garlic and s alt. It is necessary to process the garlic into a mushy state and add fine s alt. Make compresses out of this remedy. This method should be carried out in a course of one to two months.
There are a lot of herbs that can fight this disease: calendula, thyme, echinacea, hemlock and others. Do not start the fungus, fight it immediately after finding the problem.