Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a fungal disease, usually of the skin, caused by a microscopic fungus called Sporothrix schenckii. Anyone can get the disease but people conduct thorny plants, sphagnum moss or baled hay contaminated with this particular fungus are at increased risk. Outbreaks have happen among nursery workers handling sphagnum moss, rose gardeners, children playing on baled hay and greenhouse workers handling barberry thorns impure by the fungus. The fungus enters throughout small cuts or pricks from pine needles, thorns or barbs. Fortunately, it is not extend from person to person.

The first symptom is a small pink, red or mauve painless bump resembling an insect bite. The bump, or lesion, generally appear on the finger, hand or arm where the fungus first entered through a break in the skin. This is followed by the exterior of one or more additional raised bumps or nodules which open and may resemble a boil. Eventually, the skin lesions look like boil and are very slow to heal. The skin lesions may appear one to 12 weeks after contact but usually within three weeks. Sporotrichosis can be confirmed when a doctor obtain a swab of a freshly opened skin nodule and submits it to a laboratory for fungal civilization.

The diagnosis can also be verified by a blood or biopsy specimen. It is important for the diagnosis to be established by a doctor so that proper treatment can be provided. As a free service, the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research is accessible to conduct diagnostic and confirmatory laboratory testing. Sporotrichosis is usually treated with iodides taken orally in droplet form, which must be agreed by a doctor. Treatment is often extended over a number of weeks. The vast majority of the infections are partial to the skin. Cases of joint, lung and central nervous system infection have occur but are very rare and usually happen only in people with diabetes or other disorders of the immune system.

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Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can influence the scalp, skin, fingers, toe nails or foot. Anybody can get ringworm. Children may be more disposed to certain types of ringworm than adults. Transmission of these fungal agents can happen by direct skin to skin contact with impure people or pets, or not directly by contact with items such as barber clippers, hair from impure people, shower stalls or floors. Ringworm of the scalp generally begins as a small pimple which becomes larger in size and leaves scaly patches of temporary baldness.

Infected hairs become brittle and crack off easily. Occasionally, yellowish cuplike crusty areas are seen. With ringworm of the nails, the affected nails become thicker, discolored and brittle, or they become fine and disintegrate. Ringworm of the body appears as flat, dispersal ring-shaped areas. The edge is reddish and may be either dry and scaly or moist and crusted. As it spreads, the center area clears and appears normal. Ringworm of the foot appears as a scaling or crack of the skin, particularly between the toes. The incubation period is unidentified for most of these agents, however ringworm of the scalp is usually seen 10 to 14 days after contact and ringworm of the body is seen four to 10 days after primary contact.

Since so many species of fungus can cause ringworm, infection with one type will not make a person immune to future infections. Your doctor may lay down a fungicidal material to swallow as tablets or powders that can be applied directly to the affected areas. Griseofulvin is commonly agreed for treating fungus infections. Towels, hats and garments of the infected individual should not be shared with others. Young children who are infected should minimize close contact with other children until efficiently treated. When multiple cases occur, seek counsel from your local health department.

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