Infectious diseases are classified by dermatologists as one of the most dangerous groups of diseases for the population.The clinical picture, course, occurrence and spread of infectious diseases are characterized by certain signs that clearly distinguish them from other pathologies.
Fungal infection of the feet
Each infection has its own specific pathogen, which can be zoonotic, anthroponotic or zoonotic, i.e. can parasitize only animals or people or simultaneously parasitize animals and people.
Infections are contagious diseases and can be transmitted from an infected organism to a healthy one.The massive spread of an infectious disease leads to an epidemic.
After an illness, the body develops resistance or immunity to the pathogen that causes that disease, which prevents reinfection.
Experts classify infectious diseases as pathologies characterized by a certain cyclical course with a clear sequence of disease periods: an incubation period or a period of hidden symptoms, a prodromal period characterized by slightly pronounced main symptoms, the peak of the disease with clearly manifested main and secondary symptoms, extinction of clinical manifestations and complete recovery.
Despite the fact that there are many causative agents of infectious diseases and the diseases they cause differ in their 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 an acceleration of the body's basic metabolic reactions.
Fungal infections spread quite easily and quickly, which is 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 show their presence when our normal living conditions change to be suitable for fungal proliferation and reproduction.
A signal of pathological reproduction of the fungus, which leads to the development of infectious diseases, is an increase in the concentration of moisture and heat in the environment.Therefore, there is an increased risk of fungal infection 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, in order to extract keratin more easily, they settle mainly in those places on the skin where the epidermis is the most delicate and thinnest, for example in the folds between the fingers and toes.
The most common type of fungus is athlete's foot, as feet can remain in closed, uncomfortable shoes for long periods of time.Walking for long periods in closed shoes causes increased sweating of the feet, which creates an ideal environment for a fungal infection to develop.
The occurrence of a mycotic disease usually indicates the presence of factors that promote infection in the body.Reduced immunity, which can be observed in chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus, kidney and liver failure, circulatory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and a constant psycho-emotional background, contributes to a general decrease in the body's protective functions, making it vulnerable to the aggressive effects of environmental factors and pathogenic microorganisms.
In most cases, athlete's foot begins to develop in the creases between the toes, spreads from there to the sides of the feet, and then covers the mold and ankles.If the infection is ineffectively eliminated or if appropriate treatment is not provided, fungal toxins can enter the blood and circulate in the bloodstream.This can lead to disruption of physiological processes in internal organs, as well as disruption of their integrity and structure, which negatively affects the maintenance of the constancy of the internal environment of the body and its overall vital activity.
Externally, mycotic infection is manifested by thickening of the infected skin area, microcracks and microtrauma, constant peeling of the epidermis, pathological dryness of the superficial layers of the skin, severe itching and burning, and increased pain.Signs of inflammatory processes may appear on the surface of the epithelial tissue.In more severe stages, fluid-filled blisters form on the epidermis, causing the skin underneath to become softer and prone to deformation.
In addition to the general signs of parasitism by fungal microorganisms, membrane athlete's foot is also characterized by a specific localization, since it most often occurs in the folds between the 4th and 5th toes.It is characterized by the characteristic appearance of scaling in the area of the source of infection and contributes to the regular appearance of cracks in the skin tissue.Due to damage to the integrity of the epithelial tissue against the background of a 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 moccasin-like athlete's foot, a person feels constant pain in the area of the 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 cold temperatures and is prone to frequent microtraumas.
If a fungus appears on the nail plate, the nail begins to thicken, protrudes beyond the nail fold or, on the contrary, presses inward, creating strong pressure on the skin underneath.If the fungal infection is not treated immediately, the nail will begin to crumble and may eventually separate from the nail bed.
Vesicular athlete's foot causes the most physical discomfort to humans, as it is usually characterized by the appearance of subcutaneous blisters filled with clear fluid on the bottom of the foot.Often they can rupture, causing discomfort and pain, accompanied by severe itching and burning, maceration of the skin and damage to the skin of the feet from the inside.An infection with a fungus can lead to a bacterial infection, which develops in response to a reduced strength of the body's immune defenses.
Depending on the stage of development of the fungal infection, the type of disease and the general clinical picture, the attending physician may prescribe local, systemic or combined treatment.
The local treatment of athlete's foot is carried out with external medications, for example varnishes, powders, gels, sprays, tonics, ointments and creams.
Systemic therapy includes taking medications for internal use, which are prescribed for prolonged circulation of the pathogen of a fungal infection in the blood, in later stages of the disease, when local intake of medications did not produce the desired effect.Systemic therapy as an independent method of eliminating fungus is rarely prescribed, since it is most often combined with the use of external fungicidal drugs, which is called combination treatment.
Experts have found that drug groups such as allylamines and azoles are the best at combating athlete's foot.Medicines containing active substances from the group of allylamines or azoles inhibit the activity of the fungus, slow down its growth, stop reproduction and utilize mycelium - the products of its vital activity.
The most common ingredients in topical antifungals are naftifine, terbinafine, butenafine, itraconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, and miconazole.Dermatologists often advise people suffering from athlete's foot infections to take medication to combat the source of the infection from the outside.The duration of treatment is 7 to 10 days.
Drugs for oral administration are prescribed by doctors very carefully and only in extreme cases, when the fungus has already caused serious damage to health or continues to actively multiply despite regular use of local antifungal drugs.Many side effects and various contraindications can complicate the treatment of a fungal disease and create an additional burden on the body, which is already exhausted from the fight against the pathogenic activity of the fungus.
Dermatologists most often prescribe medications with the active ingredients terbinafine and itraconazole for internal use and prescribe an individual dosage regimen.Adults are prescribed therapy lasting several weeks or, if the disease is already advanced, several months.For itraconazole tablets and capsules, 2 tablets with a dosage of 100 mg are taken daily for at least a week, and the substance terbinafine is taken daily with a dosage of 250 mg for 7 to 20 days.
Systematic compliance with the main rules of prevention, regular washing of personal items, wearing high-quality comfortable shoes and regular treatment of clothing and personal hygiene items with an antifungal spray, as well as disinfection of the bathroom, toilet and floor coverings will help you protect yourself from infection with pathogenic fungal microorganisms, as well as from a long period of treatment, which can subsequently have a negative impact on your general health.