Diseases Caused by Fungi: Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Diseases caused by fungi are responsible for the death of more than 1.5 million people, even when these diseases are easily avoidable. These diseases can affect everyone; hence individuals must have a thorough knowledge to prevent serious complications.
Read on to know about diseases caused by fungi, symptoms, effects, treatment and many more!
What Are the Diseases Caused by Fungi?
Fungi are single-celled or multi-celled eukaryotic organisms that are present in the environment. Some fungi (mushroom) are visible to the naked eye, and others are tiny, microscopic (yeast) thus can be found in a multitude of forms.
Following are some of the diseases caused by fungi,
- Candidiasis
- Blastomycosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Aspergillosis
- Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)
- Pneumocystis pneumonia
Depending on the fungi and other factors, diseases can be of different types. These are as follows,
Fungal Diseases that Are Most Common
- Fungal nail infections
- Vaginal candidiasis
- Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus
- Ringworm (a communicable disease caused by fungi)
Fungal Diseases that Affect People with Poor Immunity System
- Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
- Candidiasis
- Aspergillosis
- Talaromycosis
- Candida auris infection
- Invasive candidiasis
- Cryptococcus neoformans infection
- Mucormycosis
Fungal Disease Caused Due to Living in Specific Area or While Travelling
- Blastomycosis
- Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)
- Histoplasmosis
- Cryptococcus gattii infection
- Paracoccidioidomycosis
Other Fungal Diseases
- Fungal eye infections
- Mycetoma
- Sporotrichosis
The above section provides the list of diseases caused by fungi. Now, let's learn about the symptoms of these diseases.
What Are the Symptoms of Diseases Caused by Fungi?
| Diseases Caused by Fungi | Symptoms of Diseases Caused by Fungi |
|---|---|
| Fungal Nail Infections | Discoloured (brown, white, yellow), thick, fragile or cracked nail |
| Vaginal Candidiasis | Itching or soreness in the vaginal area, pain/discomfort when urinating, unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sexual intercourse |
| Candida Infections of the Mouth, Throat, and Esophagus | White patches on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, throat and inner cheeks, pain when eating or swallowing, cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth, loss of taste, redness or soreness |
| Ring Worms | Ring-shaped rash, itchy skin, hair loss, red, scaly, cracked skin |
| Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP) | Fever, fatigue, chills, difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough |
| Invasive Candidiasis | Fever, chills (people suffering from invasive candidiasis are usually sick; hence it is difficult to diagnose specific symptoms) |
| Aspergillosis | Wheezing, fever (in rare cases), cough, coughing up blood, headache, decreased ability to smell, stuffiness, runny nose, weight loss, fatigue |
| Talaromycosis | Fever, cough, swollen lymph nodes, troubling breathing, swelling of the liver and spleen, diarrhoea, general discomfort, weight loss, abdominal pain |
| Candida Auris Infection | Fever, chills, tiredness, pain, redness and swelling, fluid leakage (if there's a site of incision) |
| Cryptococcus Neoformans Infection | Cough, chest pain, fever, shortness of breath, headache, confusion or changes in behaviour, nausea and vomiting, fever, neck pain, sensitivity to light |
| Mucormycosis | Nasal congestion, chest pain, shortness of breath, black lesions on the nasal bridge or upper inside of the mouth that quickly become more severe, fever, cough, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, one-sided facial swelling, headache, gastrointestinal bleeding |
| Blastomycosis | Fever, muscle aches or joint pain, weight loss, chest pain, cough, night sweats, fatigue |
| Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) | Cough, fever, rash on upper body or legs, fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, night sweats |
| Histoplasmosis | Fever, chest pain, chills, headache, cough, fatigue, body aches |
| Cryptococcus Gattii Infection | Cough, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, headache, confusion or changes in behaviour, neck pain |
| Paracoccidioidomycosis | Swollen lymph nodes, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, lesions in the mouth and throat, weight loss, enlarged liver and spleen |
| Fungal Eye Infections | Eye pain, excessive tearing, blurred vision, eye redness, sensitivity to light, discharge from the eyes |
| Mycetoma | It starts with a painless lump under the skin and grows to open infection, and leads to small 'grains' that contains fungal spores |
| Sporotrichosis | Lump under skin slowly progressing to larger bump (almost like an ulcer), joint pain, cough, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain |
What Are the Harmful Effects of Diseases Caused by Fungi?
Effects of fungal diseases can prove to be severe for people with poor immunity systems. It means those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS or who are undergoing chemotherapy and taking steroid medication have higher chances of getting affected by fungal disease.
These diseases can spread to vital organs such as the brain and heart and can result in serious complications. These are as follows,
- Endocarditis
- Meningitis
- Nephritis
- Abscess formation
- Organ failure
What Are the Risk Factors that Trigger Fungal Diseases?
Certain environmental or health conditions trigger fungal diseases. These are as follows,
- Humidity and dampness
- Inadequate blood flow
- Poor immunity system
- Effects of certain medication such as antibiotics, long-term usage of corticosteroids
- Chemotherapy/radiation
- Individuals who have undergone organ transplantation
- Infancy/aging
How to Diagnose Fungal Diseases?
- Microscopic examination of clinical samples (scraping of scaling piece of the affected area, i.e. skin/nails)
- Serology
- Blood test
- Histopathology
- Molecular diagnostics and antigen detection in clinical samples
What Are the Treatments for Fungal Diseases?
When diagnosed with fungal disease, doctors might prescribe some topical antifungal ointments, antiseptic mouthwash and medication depending on the type of fungal disease.
What Are the Preventive Measures to Control Fungal Diseases?
Individuals can prevent fungal infection by following the tips mentioned below,
- Wash hands regularly, especially after touching animals or people suffering from some diseases.
- Do not use other people's clothes, towels, comb or other skincare products.
- Keep skin clean especially fold areas of your body.
- Do not walk barefoot in locker rooms, community shower rooms.
With such a detailed discussion, this piece on diseases caused by fungi comes to an end. Follow preventive measures, read the symptoms mentioned carefully, and consult a doctor immediately in case you experience any of these.
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