Infectious diseases are defined 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 significantly distinguish them from other pathologies.
Fungal infection of the feet
Each infection has its specific pathogen, which can be zoonotic, anthroponotic or zoonotic, that is, parasitizing only animals or humans, or animals and humans at the same time.
Infections are contagious diseases and can be transmitted from an infected organism to a healthy organism.The massive spread of an infectious disease leads to an epidemic.
After suffering a disease, the organism develops resistance or immunity to the disease-causing agent, which prevents reinfection.
Experts classify infectious diseases as pathologies that are 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, which is characterized by weakly expressed main symptoms, the height 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 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 on the human body, showing their presence only if our normal living conditions change to those suitable for the propagation and reproduction of fungi.
A signal for the pathological proliferation of the fungus, which leads to the emergence of infectious diseases, is the increased concentration of humidity and heat in the environment.Therefore, there is 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 from our epithelial tissue, therefore, for a more convenient extraction of keratin, they settle mainly in places on the skin where the epidermis is more 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 remain in closed, uncomfortable shoes for a long period of time.Walking for a long time in closed shoes causes increased foot sweating, 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, circulatory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and a constant psycho-emotional condition contribute to a general decrease in the body's protective functions, making it susceptible to the aggressive effects of environmental factors and pathogenic microorganisms.
In most cases, foot fungus begins to develop in the creases between the toes, spreading from there to the sides of the feet and covering the mold and ankles.In case of ineffective elimination of the infection or lack of adequate treatment, fungal toxins can enter the blood and circulate through 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 body's internal environment and its general vital activity.
Externally, a mycotic infection is manifested by thickening of the infected area of the skin, microcracks and microtraumas, constant peeling of the epidermis, pathological dryness of the surface layers of the skin, severe itching and burning, increased pain;signs of inflammatory processes may appear on the surface of the epithelial tissue;In more severe stages, fluid-filled blisters appear on the epidermis, causing the skin underneath to soften and be easily susceptible to deformation.
Foot membrane fungus, in addition to general signs of parasitism by fungal microorganisms, is also characterized by a specific localization, as it most often occurs in the folds between the 4th and 5th toes.It is distinguished by the characteristic appearance of scaling in the area where the infection originates and contributes to the regular appearance of fissures in the integumentary tissues.Due to damage to the integrity of epithelial tissue against the background of a fungal disease, a bacterial infection can also develop in the body, pathogens of which enter the external environment through wounds and microcracks.
Fungi similar to moccasins, as well as 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 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 very hot and cold temperatures and is prone to frequent microtraumas.
If a fungus occurs on the nail plate, the nail begins to thicken, rising above 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 detach from the nail bed.
Vesicular foot fungus causes the greatest physical discomfort to the individual, as it is generally characterized by the appearance of subcutaneous blisters filled with clear liquid on the sole of the foot.They can often burst, which causes discomfort and pain, accompanied by intense itching and burning, maceration of the skin and damage to the skin of the foot from the inside.Infection with a fungus can give rise to a bacterial infection, which will develop in response to a decrease in the strength of the body's immune defense.
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 with external medicines, for example, varnishes, powders, gels, sprays, tonics, ointments and creams.
Systemic therapy includes the use of medicines for internal use, prescribed in case of prolonged circulation of the causative agent of a fungal infection in the blood at later stages of the disease, when the use of medicines locally did not produce the desired effect.Systemic therapy as an independent method of eliminating fungi is rarely prescribed, as most often it is combined with the use of external fungicides, which is called combined treatment.
Experts have found that groups of medications such as allylamines and azoles deal with foot fungus best.Medicines containing active ingredients from the group of allylamines or azoles inhibit the activity of the fungus, slow down its growth, stop reproduction and use the mycelium - products of its vital activity.
The most common components found in topical antifungal agents are naftifine, terbinafine, butenafine, itraconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, and miconazole.Dermatologists often advise people suffering from fungal foot infections to take medications to target the source of the infection externally.The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
Medicines 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 multiply actively, despite the regular use of local antifungal drugs.Many side effects and various contraindications can complicate the treatment of fungal diseases, creating an additional burden on the body, which is already exhausted from combating the pathogenic activity of the fungus.
Dermatologists usually prescribe drugs with the active ingredients terbinafine and itraconazole for internal use, prescribing an individual dosage regimen.Adults receive treatment lasting several weeks, sometimes several months if the disease is already at an advanced stage.Itraconazole tablets and capsules are taken 2 tablets at a dosage of 100 mg every day for at least a week, the terbinafine substance is taken daily at a dosage of 250 mg from 7 to 20 days.
Systematic compliance with the main prevention rules, regular washing of personal belongings, wearing high-quality comfortable shoes and periodic treatment of clothes and personal hygiene items with antifungal spray, as well as disinfection of bathrooms, toilets and floor coverings will help you protect yourself from infection with pathogenic fungal microorganisms, as well as from long-term treatment, which can subsequently negatively affect your overall health.