Dermatomycosis

Dermatomycosis
Dermatomycosis refers to infectious diseases of the skin, and these lesions are caused by different types of pathogenic fungi. Such diseases manifest themselves in the form of spots on various parts of the body. The nails, groin area, scalp, chin, legs are most often affected. If the treatment is not delayed, then such manifestations can be eliminated fairly quickly and two to three weeks are usually enough for a course of treatment. But in order to properly prescribe treatment, the doctor must know exactly what kind of fungus is present in the patient’s body as a pathogen.

The content of the article:
Causes of dermatomycosis
Symptoms of dermatomycosis
Diagnosis of dermatomycosis
Treatment of dermatomycosis
Dermatomycosis
There are several varieties of pathogenic fungi that can provoke skin disease in humans. This classification is based on which species and genus certain fungi belong to. The classification also takes into account the fact how deeply the fungus can penetrate under the skin, how the body reacts to the pathogen, how one or another group of mycosis is localized. Unfortunately, modern medicine cannot yet make a full-fledged classification of fungi, so we have to use the existing one. Russian doctors use the classification developed by researcher N. Sheklakov.

The fungus can occur due to completely different manifestations, this may include epidermophytum, microsporum, trichophyton.

According to this classification , the following groups are distinguished among dermatomycoses:

Kermatomycosis. This may include lichen multicolored, piedra, as well as trichosporium knotty.
Dermatophytosis. This group includes: inguinal epidermatophytia (its other name is true); mycosis caused by red trichophyton (so—called rubrophytia); favus; trichophytia; epidermophytia of the feet (another name is mycosis caused by interdigital trichophyton); microsporia.
Candidiasis. This type of dermatomycosis is quite rare and is not very common in Russia.
Deep mycosis. This group includes sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, chromomycosis, as well as some other skin lesions.
Regardless of which group of fungi the diagnosed dermatomycosis belongs to, treatment should be started as early as possible, since in a mild form this disease is more active and easier to treat. The funds used for the course of treatment itself can, unfortunately, have a negative impact on the body as a whole. It is best to immediately consult a doctor if the patient notices any manifestations on the skin. Early diagnosis can significantly facilitate the treatment process.

Causes of dermatomycosis
Speaking about the etiology of the disease, it is important to take into account that the pathogens are a variety of fungi: mycos, trichophyton, epidermophyton (the latter group includes varieties of this type of fungus, all of them are united under the single name “dermatophytes”). It is always extremely difficult to identify pathogens in the tissues of the body, since a specialist must first isolate a pure culture for research.

Another difficulty lies in the fact that the causative agents of dermatomycosis are very common, so infection occurs easily, and in some cases such manifestations may have something in common with epidemic signs. Dermatomycosis is most often characteristic of countries with a tropical climate, that is, humid and hot, since fungi usually actively multiply at a temperature of 25-30 degrees celsius. The summer season and the alkaline environment are ideal for them. At the same time, experts say that children are much more likely than adults to be infected.

As a rule, the pathogen appears on the skin after a person has been in contact with the lesion for some time. Doctors distinguish three main types of pathogens:

zoophilic;
geophilic;
anthropophilic.
The source of infection in the first case is animals, or rather, parasites living in their organisms. This can include parasites that use domestic dogs, cats or cattle as hosts.

In the second case, we are talking about pathogens living in the soil and soil. A person can work or just come into contact with the ground without using protective equipment, and as a result become infected.

The third case is parasites living in the human body, which is a carrier of the disease. The very fact of infection occurs upon contact.

The development of dermatomycosis is expressed in the fact that conidia and hyphae fragments of pathogens get into the hair, the upper layers of the skin, nails (that is, into those tissues that contain keratin). The degree of infection ability in dermatophytes is quite low, so in healthy people, tissue damage does not manifest itself. However , pathogens differ in a characteristic feature: they can subject keratin to complete destruction and destruction.

The pathogens located in the hair shaft can be divided into two types according to their growth. First: endothrix begin to germinate from the skin into the hair and follicles, while they do not go beyond the boundaries of the hair shaft itself. Second: ectothrix grow directly into the hair directly from the hair follicle.

Much in the occurrence and development of the disease depends on the characteristics of the human body itself. Some types of dermatomycosis may be characteristic exclusively for an adult, and some – only for a child. In many ways, the disease is provided not only by age, but also by the secretion of sebaceous glands, the composition of sweat and many other characteristic features.

Primary infection with dermatomycosis is a consequence of sensitization, after which it is time for the development of relapse. Immunodeficiency largely determines the level of risk of dermatomycosis. In addition, various metabolic disorders, improper nutrition, problems with the hormonal system, vitamin deficiency can also become a favorable background for infection. It should also be remembered that the fungus penetrates into damaged skin faster, so that people with ulcers, wounds and scratches on the skin are in a special risk zone.

Conidia, hyphae, spores penetrate into hair, nails and skin. Since the nutrient medium for the fungus is, first of all, keratin, the epidermis after infection begins to deteriorate rapidly. At the same time, healthy areas of the skin are also affected.

Symptoms of dermatomycosis
Dermatomycosis does not pose an immediate threat to the life of its carrier. Reproduction of pathogens is observed on the skin and other tissues, often all this is limited to external signs and manifestations. So what worries the patient most is not how dangerous the disease is, but how he himself looks now. If we are talking about skin lesions, then in this case, symptoms for dermatomycosis appear in the form of scaly plaques. They are usually red in color, can be arranged in groups or individually, each plaque is less than 5 cm in diameter. Such diseases are characterized by the brightness of the damaged areas and their itching.

Dermatomycosis on the head is caused by the pathogen mycosis. Their symptoms are manifested in increased fragility of the hair, since the fungus endothrix penetrates into the hair shaft. If the ectothrix fungus is to blame, then the hair begins to fall out, since the follicles are destroyed under the influence of the pathogen.

There are other symptoms of dermatomycosis that occur depending on what kind of disease is observed in the patient. For example, with dermatomycosis of the mustache and beard, the clinical picture is somewhat different. The pathogen causes the appearance of pustules, and in the future the follicles begin to be affected. Often these affected areas are infected a second time, so it is not difficult to diagnose the disease, taking as a basis the presence of areas where edema forms, and the lesions themselves are covered with a crust with bloody discharge. The causative agent in these cases is trichophyton.

Inguinal dermatomycosis is characterized by pustule rashes, extensive peeling, pyoderma appear in the groin and genitals. The causative agent is the same trichophyton in several of its forms.

Symptoms of dermatomycosis of the body are characterized by the same manifestations: peeling in localized foci, pyoderma, erythema and pustular rashes.

If we consider cases of dermatomycosis of the feet, it should be noted that skin lesions are usually located here between the fingers, as well as on the feet themselves. The causative agent of trichophyton causes the appearance of scales, cracks, erosion of the skin, sometimes small bubbles.

Such a disease as favus is expressed in the defeat of nails, hair and skin. At the same time, the course of the disease is chronic, and infection occurs through direct contact with the carrier. With the scutular form, a week after the infection itself, erythema is observed near the follicles, which later transforms into pseudopustules and ulcers. After that, the skin begins to atrophy and scar-type allopecia occurs. At the same time, the hair does not fall out, but becomes lifeless and dull. As for the impetiginous form, in this case the clinical picture is different: brown crusts appear on the patient’s skin, under which the same allopecia is hidden. If there is a nail bite, then it is expressed in their fragility, the nails acquire a yellowish color.

Onychomycosis affects the nails on the hands and feet, they begin to layer, roughen and thicken. The causative agent is trichophyton, in some cases the disease can be caused by various types of candida fungus.

Diagnosis of dermatomycosis
Superficial mycoses can be detected already by external examination. The fact is that with dermatomycosis, symptoms and treatment are closely related, so first the doctor must correctly determine which pathogen caused the disease, diagnose it, and then prescribe treatment depending on the type of pathogen. Usually, dermatomycosis is characterized by a rash with red edges. However, the final diagnosis is manifested in clinical studies under a microscope, or rather, in the examination of the culture taken by scraping.

The scales of nails and skin are examined without fail. The patient may need to take a blood test, undergo tests for an allergic reaction. The dermatologist is not limited to an external examination, because only a thorough examination will help to identify the true causes of the disease.

Treatment of dermatomycosis
Antifungal ointments and formulations are successfully used to treat such diseases, these products can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription. Such a remedy should be used 1-2 times a day, and after a week the results of treatment will become noticeable. However, in no case should the course of treatment be interrupted if the patient believes that things have improved. Only long-term use of antifungal agents can completely rid a person of the disease.

Sometimes ointments may not help, this applies to the disease in the advanced stage. In this case, stronger oral remedies are prescribed. It should be remembered that the affected areas of the skin should never be wetted, they should be dry and clean. If bubbles occur, it is forbidden to open them, as this will provoke further development of the infection. If the patient is being treated for inguinal dermatomycosis, he should pay close attention to the quality of underwear and change it daily. With dermatomycosis of the feet, clotrimazole powder is used, which is used to treat shoes.

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