Fungal infections
ছত্রাকজনিত সংক্রমণ
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Fungal infections come in several types, and they can affect different parts of the body, such as the scalp, feet, groin and nails.
These infections are known as "tinea". They're not usually serious and are easy to treat. But they are contagious, and they spread easily from one person to another.
Types of fungal infection
Fungal infections come in different types, including:
- athlete's foot
- fungal nail infection
- fungal scalp infection (tinea capitis)
- ringworm
Read more: Athlete’s foot · Fungal nail infection · Fungal scalp infection (tinea capitis) · Ringworm
How fungal infections are diagnosed
Ringworm and other fungal infections are usually easy for a doctor to diagnose, based on:
- how they look
- where they are
Help from a pharmacist
Talk to your local pharmacist about treatments for fungal infections. Your pharmacist can:
- give you advice on how to treat your symptoms
- suggest which medicine to take
- tell you whether you need to see a doctor about your symptoms
Treatment for fungal infections
Most fungal infections, including ringworm, are easily treated with antifungal medicine. It may come as a:
- cream
- tablet
- gel
- spray
- shampoo
If the skin is irritated or broken, other bacterial infections can set in. These may need to be treated with antibiotics.
What causes fungal infections?
Fungal infections of the skin, scalp and nails are caused by a particular type of fungi called dermatophytes. These live off keratin, a tough, waterproof tissue found in many parts of your body, including your skin, hair and nails. That's why fungal infections mostly affect your skin, scalp or nails.
The fungi are tough enough to survive for months on your skin, in soil or on household objects like combs or towels. They also thrive in heat and moisture, which helps them grow. So they can spread more easily in swimming pool changing rooms and shared showers.
Who is most at risk of fungal infections?
Anyone can get a fungal infection. Some types, though, are more common in children.
How fungal infections spread from person to person
Fungal spores pass from one person to another in a few ways. You can pick them up through:
- direct skin contact
- contact with an infected object like towels, hairbrushes and bedding
- contact with an infected animal
- contact with infected soil, though this is less common
How to prevent fungal infections
There are a few things you can do to stop fungal infections from spreading.
Things to do
- get treatment for a fungal infection as soon as possible
- check for signs of infection if you've been in contact with someone who has ringworm
- take your pet to the vet if you think they might have ringworm, for example, if they have patches of missing fur
- wash your hands after touching animals or soil
- wash towels and bedsheets regularly
- keep your skin clean
- wash your hands regularly to help prevent the spread of infection
- dry your skin well after washing, and take care to dry the area between your toes and the folds of your skin
Things to avoid
- do not scratch the affected area, because you could spread the infection to other parts of your body
- if someone has athlete's foot, never share personal items such as a towel, clothing or bed linen
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