Fungal Infections

Also called: Mycoses

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Summary

If you have ever had athlete's foot or a yeast infection, you can blame a fungus. A fungus is a primitive organism. Mushrooms, mold and mildew are examples. Fungi live in air, in soil, on plants and in water. Some live in the human body. Only about half of all types of fungi are harmful.

Some fungi reproduce through tiny spores in the air. You can inhale the spores or they can land on you. As a result, fungal infections often start in the lungs or on the skin. You are more likely to get a fungal infection if you have a weakened immune system or take antibiotics.

Fungi can be difficult to kill. For skin and nail infections, you can apply medicine directly to the infected area. Oral antifungal medicines are also available for serious infections.

Start Here

Fungal Diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diagnosis and Tests

Fungal Culture Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Rash Evaluation (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Sputum Culture (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Fungus Infections: Preventing Recurrence (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Risk Factors for Fungal Diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

Guidance for Investigating Fungal Disease Outbreaks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

About Cryptococcosis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
About Fungal Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Blastomycosis Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Fungal Keratitis (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
Fungal Sinusitis (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
Mucormycosis Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Nail Fungal Infections (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Nail Fungus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Sporotrichosis Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Tinea Versicolor (American Academy of Dermatology)

Images

Fungal Nail Infection (Onychomycosis) (VisualDX)
Tinea Versicolor (VisualDX)

Statistics and Research

Fungus Among Us (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Histoplasmosis (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Mycoses (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Children

Fungal Diseases (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Blastomycosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cryptococcosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Fungal nail infection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Mucormycosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sputum fungal smear (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Tinea versicolor (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Fungal Infections is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Disclaimers

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