Infectious diseases are defined by dermatologists as one of the most dangerous groups of diseases for the population.The clinical picture, course, appearance and spread of infectious diseases are characterized by certain signs that significantly distinguish them from other pathologies.
Fungal foot infection
Each infection has its own specific pathogen, which can be zoonotic, anthroponotic or zoonotic, that is, parasitizing only animals or humans, or both animals and humans at the same time.
Infections are contagious diseases and can be transmitted from an infected body to a healthy body.The massive spread of an infectious disease results in an epidemic.
After suffering from an illness, the body develops resistance or immunity to the causative agent of that illness, which prevents reinfection.
Experts classify infectious diseases as pathologies characterized by a certain cyclical course with a clear sequence of periods of the disease: an incubation period or a period of hidden symptoms, a prodromal period characterized by slightly expressed main symptoms, the peak of the disease with clearly manifested main and secondary symptoms, the extinction of clinical manifestations and complete recovery.
Despite the fact that there are many causative agents of infectious diseases and the diseases caused by them differ in external manifestations, predisposing factors and methods of elimination, infectious diseases have a similar number of clinical manifestations: a sharp increase in body temperature up to fever and acceleration of the body's basic metabolic reactions.
Fungal infections spread quite easily and quickly, due to the conditional pathogenicity of fungal microorganisms.This means that fungi are constantly present in the environment and in the human body, and only manifest themselves if our normal living conditions become those conducive to the spread and reproduction of fungi.
A signal of pathological proliferation of the fungus, leading to the appearance of infectious diseases, is an increase in the concentration of humidity and heat in the environment.There is therefore an increased risk of contracting fungal infections in shared showers and bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas, baths and changing rooms.
Fungal microorganisms feed on keratin, a specific protein in our epithelial tissue.Therefore, for more convenient extraction of keratin, they are installed mainly in those places of the skin where the epidermis is most delicate and thin, for example, in the folds between the fingers and toes.
The most common type of fungus is foot fungus, as feet can stay in closed, uncomfortable shoes for a long time.Walking for a long time in closed shoes causes increased sweating of the feet, which creates an ideal environment for the development of a fungal infection.
The occurrence of a mycotic disease most often indicates the presence of factors predisposing to infection in the body.Reduced immunity, which can be observed in chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus, renal and hepatic failure, blood circulation disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and a constant psycho-emotional background contribute to a general decrease in the protective functions of the body, which makes it susceptible to the aggressive effects of environmental factors and pathogenic microorganisms.
In most cases, foot fungus begins to grow in the creases between the toes, spreading from there to the sides of the feet and then covering the mold and ankles.In case of ineffective elimination of the infection or lack of proper treatment, fungal toxins can enter the bloodstream and circulate in the bloodstream.This can lead to disruption of physiological processes in internal organs, disruption of their integrity and structure, which will negatively affect the maintenance of the constancy of the internal environment of the body and its overall vital activity.
Externally, a mycotic infection is manifested by thickening of the infected area of the skin, microcracks and microtrauma, constant peeling of the epidermis, pathological dryness of the superficial layers of the skin, intense itching and burning, increased pain;signs of inflammatory processes may appear on the surface of the epithelial tissue;In more severe stages, fluid-filled bubbles appear on the epidermis, leading to softening of the skin underneath and fairly easy deformation.
Membrane fungus of the foot, in addition to general signs of parasitism by fungal microorganisms, is also characterized by a specific localization, since it most often appears in the folds located between the 4th and 5th toe.It is distinguished by the characteristic appearance of peeling at the source of infection and contributes to the regular appearance of cracks in the integumentary tissues.Due to damage to the integrity of epithelial tissue against the background of fungal disease, a bacterial infection can also develop in the body, the pathogens of which enter the external environment through wounds and microcracks.
Moccasin-like fungi, like shoes, can cover the entire foot, increasing the area of parasitism from the toes to the ankle and heel.When infected with a moccasin-like foot fungus, a person experiences constant pain in the zone of most active division of fungal cells, increased itching, thickening of the surface layers of the epithelial tissue of the sole, and the skin itself becomes hypersensitive to the effects of too hot and too cold temperatures and prone to frequent microtrauma.
If a fungus appears on the nail plate, the nail begins to thicken, rising above the nail fold, or, on the contrary, to press inward, creating strong pressure on the skin below.If the fungal infection is not treated immediately, the nail will begin to crumble and could eventually break away from the nail bed.
Foot blister fungus is the one that causes the most physical discomfort in a person, as it is usually characterized by the appearance of subcutaneous blisters filled with clear fluid on the sole of the foot.Often they can burst, which causes discomfort and pain, accompanied by severe itching and burning, maceration of the skin and damage to the skin of the foot from the inside.Infection with a fungus can result in a bacterial infection, which will develop in response to a reduction in the strength of the body's immune defenses.
Depending on the stage of development of the fungal infection, the nature of the disease and the general clinical picture, the attending physician may prescribe local, systemic or combined treatment.
Local treatment of foot fungus is carried out using external medications, for example, varnishes, powders, gels, sprays, tonics, ointments and creams.
Systemic therapy includes the use of drugs for internal use, prescribed in cases of prolonged circulation of the causative agent of a fungal infection in the blood at later stages of the disease, when local use of drugs did not produce the desired effect.Systemic therapy as an independent method of eliminating fungi is rarely prescribed, since it is most often combined with the use of external fungicidal drugs, which are called combined treatments.
Experts have found that groups of drugs such as allylamines and azoles are more resistant to foot fungus.Medicines containing active ingredients from the allylamine or azole group inhibit the activity of the fungus, slow down its growth, stop its reproduction and use mycelium - the products of its vital activity.
The most common components of topical antifungal agents are naftifine, terbinafine, butenafine, itraconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, and miconazole.Dermatologists often advise people with fungal foot infections to take medications to target the external source of the infection.The duration of treatment is 7 to 10 days.
Medicines intended for oral administration are prescribed by doctors very carefully and only in extreme cases, when the fungus has already caused serious harm to human health or continues to actively multiply, despite the regular use of local antifungal agents.Numerous side effects and various contraindications can complicate the treatment of fungal diseases, creating an additional load on the body already exhausted from the fight against the pathogenic activity of the fungus.
Dermatologists most often prescribe drugs containing the active ingredients terbinafine and itraconazole for internal use, prescribing an individual dosage regimen.Adults are prescribed treatment for several weeks, sometimes several months if the disease is already at an advanced stage.Itraconazole tablets and capsules are taken 2 tablets at a dose of 100 mg every day for at least a week, the substance terbinafine is taken daily at a dose of 250 mg from 7 to 20 days.
Systematic adherence to the main rules of prevention, regular washing of personal belongings, wearing high-quality comfortable shoes and periodic treatment of clothing and personal hygiene items with an antifungal spray, as well as disinfection of the bathroom, toilet and floor coverings will help protect yourself from infection with pathogenic fungal microorganisms, as well as from prolonged treatment, which can subsequently harm your overall health.