Dr. Susmit Haldar talks about fungal infection as well as Psoriasis & precautions required to be taken in order to protect from fungal infection & Psoriasis
Categories of Fungal Infection There are four categories of fungal Infection, Superficial fungal infections are caused by fungi that grow on the surface of skin & hair. Subcutaneous fungal infections penetrate below the skin to involve the subcutaneous, connective, and bone tissue. Systemic fungal infection - Systemic mycoses or deep mycoses infect internal organs and become widely disseminated throughout the body. Cutaneous mycoses or dermatomycoses - Include such infections as athlete’s foot and ringworm, where growth occurs only in the superficial layers of skin, nails, or hair. Causes of Dermatophytosis Dermatophytosis infections are fungal infections caused by dermatophytes a group of fungi that invade and grow in dead keratin. Several species commonly invade human keratin and these belong to the Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton genera. They tend to grow outwards on skin, producing a ring-like pattern - hence the term 'ringworm'. They are very common and affect different parts of the body. They can usually be successfully treated but success depends on the site of infection and on compliance with treatment. Dermatophytes are also classified into different subtypes which include anthropophilic, zoophilic, and geophilic. Anthropophilic dermatophytes are the main cause of human dermatophytosis. They are often transmitted from one person to another or by contaminated objects (e.g. clothes, hats, hairbrushes), and generally cause long-lasting infection with mild inflammation. Zoophilic dermatophytes they can occasionally spread to humans by direct contact. Geophilic dermatophytes grow in keratin-rich soil containing decaying feathers, horns, and hairs.