Fungal infections

Abstract

Fungi comprise many species that are associated with a wide spectrum of diseases in humans. The clinical relevance of fungal diseases has increased markedly, mainly because of an increasing population of immunocompromised hosts, including individuals infected with HIV, transplant recipients, and patients with cancer. Fungal infections are classified according to the primary site of infection, as superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, and deep or systemic mycosis. Superficial mycosis is limited to the stratum corneum and elicits no or slight inflammation. Cutaneous mycosis involves the integument and its appendages, including hair and nail. Infection of the skin, which is caused by the fungal organisms or its products, may involve stratum corneum or deep layers of the epidermis. Subcutaneous mycosis involves the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues. Subcutaneous mycosis usually follows traumatic inoculation of fungal organisms. The inflammatory response that develops in the subcutaneous tissues usually involves the epidermis. Deep or systemic mycosis usually involves organs such as lung, central nervous system, bones, and abdominal viscera. The portal of entry in deep mycosis is the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and blood vessels.