Fungus Infections
Fungus Infections, diseases caused by the growth of fungi in or on the body. In most healthy people fungal infections are mild, involving only the skin, hair, nails, or other superficial sites, and they clear up spontaneously. They include the familiar ringworm and athlete's foot . In someone with an impaired immune system, however, such infections, called dermatophytoses, can persist for long periods. The organisms causing dermatophytoses belong to the genera Microsporum , Epidermophyton , and Trichophyton . Fungi can also invade internal organs of the body, especially the lungs , where the infections resemble pneumonia or pulmonary tuberculosis. These infections usually occur in people whose immune system has been suppressed by diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), by anticancer drugs, or by radiation ; patients being treated with steroid hormones (see Hydrocortisone ); people with diabetes; and those being treated with antibiotic drugs for a long time. Tw...