Infections caused by fungi

                 Infections caused by fungi

General

 

The fungal microorganisms are formed by a single cell (yeast) or cell groups (molds) which require the addition of organic compounds from the external environment to obtain the energy they need to perform their functions. Of the thousands of known species of fungi, only a few are pathogenic for humans, ie they are able to invade your body, where they find favorable conditions to survive, grow and reproduce, causing ringworm.Depending on the type of tissue affected, it is possible to distinguish two types of fungal infections: surface and internal. The superficial mycosis, frequently, are located in the skin, oral and genital mucosa or skin constituents. On the other hand, the internal mycoses are located in tissues or organs inside the body, such as the subcutaneous tissue, the mucosa of the esophagus or lung, affecting with particular frequency people with chronic conditions or where the defense system is weakened: diabetics, malnourished individuals, the elderly, people undergoing prolonged treatment with corticosteróicies or immunosuppressive drugs, AIDS patients or have a disseminated cancer, intravenous drug addicts, among others.Then describe briefly the main internal mycosis and its characteristics.

Internal candidiasis

 

The internal candichase infection is usually chronic, caused by Candida albicans, a kind of fungus that naturally inhabits the skin surface and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals, including humans, even in normal conditions does not cause problems. However, given certain conditions, e.g., conditions of high humidity and heat, in case of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or after prolonged administration of antibiotics, these fungi can cause a superficial infection.One of the most common locations corresponds to the lining of the esophagus, being called esophageal candidiasis, very common in patients with AIDS and children affected by diaper rash, an infection caused by the same species of fungi. How rarely manifest symptoms, esophageal candidiasis passes. in most cases overlooked. However, makes it difficult, sooner or later, the swallowing of food and produce a burning sensation behind the breastbone and chest pain.Another type of internal candidiasis, more serious than the previous one, is disseminated candidiasis, caused by the penetration of fungi into the blood circulation and the subsequent invasion of various internal organs and tissues, where they cause the development of numerous small abscesses, or abnormal cavity filled with pus.  

The candid both can penetrate the circulation directly, as often happens in addicts of intravenous drugs using contaminated syringes, as from injuries caused by own fungus on the skin and mucous membranes, as often occurs among immunocompromised people. The manifestations vary depending on the location of lesions and the severity of the infection. Tissues and organs most often affected are the kidneys, with manifestations ranging from the onset of fever, accompanied by the emission of turbid urine, and renal failure; the central nervous system, causing meningitis, which originates from headache and spontaneous vomiting even hallucinations or coma; the joints which become inflamed and painful; the heart, with expressions that indicate inflammation of the heart valves; and the eyeball through the optic nerve allocation which can cause blindness.Treatment of candidiasis is the internal administration, for several months, several types of medicines which act against fungi. In esophageal candidiasis, these drugs can be administered orally and possibly intravenously. On the other hand, when disseminated candidiasis or affects other internal organ must proceed to the administration of drugs intravenously.

Histoplasmosis

 

Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus normally present in the soil and, above all, in places contaminated with bird droppings, such as chicken and pigeon houses, or of bats, especially in caves inhabited. The infection is carried out by absorbing H. capsulatum spores, a kind of seeds resistant to adverse conditions the external environment that, to find a better situation, germinate in order to originate new fungi. The disease is particularly common in many parts of America, where it is endemic.Although the problem can evolve asymptomatically, usually shows various expressions that indicate the development of pulmonary lesions, including chest pain, shortness of breath and fever accompanied by chills and sweats. Moreover, in some cases, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, fungi can enter the bloodstream through which arrive in other organs.With the exception of asymptomatic cases in which is not necessary, treatment consists of the administration of antifungal drugs, usually intravenously, over several weeks or even several months. Moreover, in some cases, it is necessary to resort to surgery to repair the damaged tissue.

Sporotrichosis

 

Sporotrichosis is an infectious disease caused by Sporothrix schenkii, a fungus that lives mainly in plants and soils, especially in humid and warm regions. As the contagion is usually carried out on wounds caused by thorns and contaminated sharps, the most affected are rural workers, gardeners and florists, although it also can be made by fungal spores of absorption.When the infection takes place through a wound in the skin, the lesions are located in the skin and extend to the vessels and nearby lymph nodes. Initially, it is evident through a small nodule painless, as it increases in size, will be ringing on the skin, which is red and forms an ulcer, enabling the secretion of a yellowish liquid. Simultaneously, going up producing small abscesses throughout the lymphatics and lymph nodes that drain the tissue where the initial lesion is located (e.g., a leg or arm), with a similar trend, as it has a tendency to join the skin, leading to formation of ulcers. 

 Although the lesions are typically not show general signs and symptoms, if not properly treated, they can take a chronic course over months or years. Treatment consists of oral administration of potassium iodide and application of this product on the affected area until healing of the skin.When the infection is carried out by absorption of the fungus spores, the initial lesions consist of small lung abscesses, yielding systemic signs and symptoms such as general malaise and fever, cough, and sometimes mucous sputum with traces of blood. Subsequently, the fungus can spread to joints and other body parts, with individual signs and symptoms of each location. In such cases, the treatment consists of the administration of antifungal drugs intravenously over several weeks or even several months.

Aspergillosis

 

Aspergillosis is a problem caused by several types of fungi of the genus Aspergillus are spread on land and in the air, food, organic substances in decomposition and also in rural constructions especially in damp areas, although some also belong to the normal mucosal flora breathing. The disease may take three distinct forms.The allergic aspergillosis is a hypersensitivity reaction triggered by frequent contact of the fungus with the respiratory mucous membranes, affecting mainly rural workers with a history of allergies. Its most common manifestations are episodes of bronchial obstruction similar to those caused by asthma, or feeling of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, coughing attacks and sometimes fever and general malaise, which are evident and disappear each Because fungi are inhaled, although they have a tendency to recur over the years and to cause, in severe cases, the development of pulmonary emphysema. The treatment is to avoid contact with the fungi responsible, while in acute episodes often be resorted to corticosteroids. 

The aspergilloma is a lung tumor progressive growth provided by the proliferation of fungi and fibrous tissue in abnormal pre-existing cavities, usually as a sequel tuberculosis, lung abscesses or cysts. The injury usually evolves asymptomatically to acquire a considerable volume, height cm manifested through coughing, mucus or bloody sputum, nosebleeds and, sometimes, fever and general malaise. Although treatment consists, in most cases, the surgical removal aspergilloma, in case it is not possible, is based on the administration of antifungal drugs intravenously over an extended period of time.

 The disseminated aspergillosis, which is typically an opportunistic infection affecting immunocompromised persons, characterized by the extension of fungi airway to various tissues and organs, breaking itself alveolar tissue in the lungs, blood, central nervous system, heart, eyes and subcutaneous tissue, where they form abscesses and other lesions that can cause a wide range of manifestations. In such cases, the treatment consists essentially in administering the antifungal drugs intravenously over long periods of time, sometimes throughout his life, but also can use to perform a surgical procedure to repair a damaged tissue.

Cryptococcosis

 

 Cryptococcosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a fairly common fungus in the soil and present, especially in the droppings of pigeons and other birds, which can survive for several years. The infection takes place through inhalation of powder particles contaminated with molds carried by air currents.Although the lesions initially develop in the lung tissue, which can persist for years without causing manifestations sometimes can cause chest pain, cough and mucous or even bloody sputum. Although fungi have the tendency to restrict the lungs and eventually be removed, either spontaneously or with the help of appropriate treatment, in some cases, particularly among immunocompromised patients, propagate through the blood to other organs , causing widespread cryptococcosis, very common complication of AIDS. The main manifestations of this form of the disease, in addition to some general and slight fever and malaise, correspond to the allocation of the meninges and the brain: headache accompanied by vomiting and stiff neck, drowsiness, memory deficit, staggering locomotion, seizures and, in severe cases, coma. It can also manifest signs and visual symptoms such as loss of vision and dizziness, or abscesses in bones and joints, nodules in the subcutaneous tissue and skin lesions. If you do not do the proper treatment, the prognosis is very serious, with a high mortality rate. The treatment primarily consists in the administration of antifungal drugs intravenously over an extended period.

Additional Information

Circumstances conducive to the development of internal mycoses

• prolonged administration of antibiotics. • prolonged administration of corticosteroids. • chronic yeast infections, skin, genitals or nails mucous membranes. • Diabetes poorly controlled diabetes. • Addiction intravenous administration of drugs. • immunosuppression: AIDS, malnutrition, advanced cancer.

The doctor answers

 

Diagnosed my father an intestinal infection caused by fungi and the physician said that the cause could be the prolonged administration of antibiotics required to treat a bacterial infection. What is the relationship between these two facts?

Since bacteria and fungi that, in normal conditions, live in our gut using the same nutrients to perform their functions, administration of certain antibiotics in large quantities and over a prolonged period of time provides for eliminating much of the flora intestinal bacterial, which means that fungi, such as do not have to share their nutrients start reproducing in excess, causing intestinal infection. This type of infection disappear, fortunately, after the restoration of normal intestinal bacterial flora, which can be facilitated through the yogurt consumption, a food containing harmless bacteria belonging to these pathogens.

Antifungal medicines

 

The newer drugs used in the treatment of diseases caused by fungi are becoming more efficient and cause less side effects.

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