TOPIC: FUNGAL INFECTION
The weekly session of Health/Safety talk organised by renowned practitioners of the Excellent Sports Fans Club (ESFC) in the field of health and safety came up on Tuesday, 14th August 2018, and Fungal Infections was the eye opening topic to many Nigerians who are in darkness of it.
Health expert Miss Latipha Buraimoh, a radiographer, and a lab scientist gave many insights to the Topic.
*Few Excerpts From the session*
Today's topic is a wide and broad subject which often we all take for granted.
What is a Fungal infection?
A fungus is a primitive organism which can live everywhere in the air, in the soil, on plants and in water. Some fungi are helpful, while others harmful.
Fungal infections caused by harmful fungi are very common and are not very serious if they are diagnosed quickly, correctly and treated.
However, where fungal infections are concerned, once treated, reinfections can easily occur, as fungi can be a bit difficult to kill.
How does a fungal infection occur?
Because fungal spores are often present in the air, habitats or in the soil, one can inhale the spores or they can land on a person. Thus, fungal infections often start off in the lungs or on the skin.
People with weak immune systems are very prone to fungal infections.
Examples of fungal infections include:
Tinea pedis (athlete's foot), tinea corporis (ringworms), yeast infection onychomycosis (fungal infection of the toenails), tinea versicolor (fungal infection of the skin), tinea cruris (jock itch).
Who is prone to fungal infections?
Those who are prone to fungal infections include:
people with weakened immune systems such as children, elderly people, people suffering from AIDS, HIV infection, cancer, diabetic patients with a genetic predisposition towards fungal infections, people who sweat a lot (since sweaty clothes and shoes can enhance fungus growth on the skin), people who come in contact with a person suffering from a fungal infection, people who frequent communal areas with moisture such as locker rooms and showers, since fungi require moisture to grow and reproduce, and also people who are obese as they have excessive skin folds.
What are the causes of fungal infections?
Common fungal skin infections are caused by yeasts (such as Candida or Malassezia furfur) or dermatophytes, such as Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton.
Fungal infection occurs when the fungal spores come in contact with the skin, or are inhaled.
What are the symptoms of fungal infections, and how is fungal infection diagnosed?
The symptoms of various kinds of fungal infections are as follows:
Diagnosis
For fungal infections, you can consult a General practitioner or a dermatologist.
Doctors usually diagnose the infection by scraping scaling skin off of a person and inspecting it under a microscope for evidence of any fungus.
What is the treatment or fungal infection?
For fungal infection, the doctor will treat you based on the type and fungal infection, you suffer from, and also the severity of the condition. He/She may prescribe topical anti-fungal medications and oral drugs.
Most fungal skin infections can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription creams.
For severe cases however, the doctor may require additional methods.
So, I guess we've learnt a thing or two from one of Excellent Sports Fans Club (ESFC) medical practitioners Dr. Miss Latipha Buraimoh on Fungal infections.
Till I bring to you another interesting Health/Safety talk next week, on behalf of the Excellent Sports Fans Club (ESFC), always remember, "stay healthy; Safety First"!
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