Infectious diseases are defined by dermatologists as one of the most dangerous groups of diseases for the population.The clinical picture, course, appearance 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 own specific pathogen, which can be zoonotic, anthroponotic or zoonotic, i.e.to parasitize only animals or humans or both animals and humans.
Infections are contagious diseases and can be transmitted from an infected organism to a healthy one.The mass spread of an infectious disease leads to an epidemic.
After an illness, the body develops resistance or immunity to the causative agent of this disease, which prevents re-infection.
Experts classify infectious diseases as pathologies that are characterized by a certain cyclic 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 mildly expressed main symptoms, the height of the disease with clearly expressed main and secondary symptoms, disappearance 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 to fever and acceleration of the body's main 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 the human body, showing their presence only if our usual living conditions change to suitable for the spread and reproduction of fungi.
A signal of pathological proliferation of fungi, which leads to the appearance of infectious diseases, is the increase in the concentration of moisture and heat in the environment.Therefore, there is an increased risk of contracting fungal infections in communal showers and baths, swimming pools, saunas, bathrooms and changing rooms.
Fungal microorganisms feed on keratin, a specific protein in our epithelial tissue, therefore, for more convenient extraction of keratin, they settle mainly in those places of the skin where the epidermis is the most delicate and thin, 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 a long period of time.Prolonged walking in closed shoes causes increased sweating of the feet, which creates an ideal environment for the development of a fungal infection.
The appearance 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, kidney and liver failure, circulatory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and a constant psycho-emotional background contribute to a general decrease in the body's protective functions, as a result of which it becomes susceptible to the aggressive effects of environmental factors and pathogenic microorganisms.
In most cases, athlete's foot begins to develop in the folds between the toes, spreading from there to the sides of the feet and then covering the bunions and ankles.In the case of ineffective elimination of the infection or lack of appropriate treatment, fungal toxins can enter the blood and circulate in 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 stability of the body's internal environment and its overall vital activity.
Externally, 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 bubbles appear on the epidermis, as a result of which the underlying skin softens and is quite easily susceptible to deformation.
Membrane fungus on the feet, in addition to the general signs of parasitism by fungal microorganisms, is also characterized by a specific localization, being most often found in the folds between the 4th and 5th toes.It is distinguished by the characteristic appearance of peeling in the area of the source of infection and contributes to the regular appearance of cracks in the covering tissues.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 can cover the entire foot, increasing the area of infestation from the toes to the ankle and heel.When infected with moccasin-like fungi on the feet, a person experiences 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 foot, and the skin itself becomes hypersensitive to the effects of too high and low temperatures and prone to frequent microtraumas.
If a fungus appears on the nail plate, the nail begins to thicken, rising above the nail fold or, on the contrary, is pushed inward, creating strong pressure on the skin below.If the fungal infection is not treated immediately, the nail will begin to crumble and may eventually separate from the nail bed.
Vesicular foot fungus causes the greatest physical discomfort to a person, as it is usually characterized by the appearance of subcutaneous blisters filled with clear fluid on the bottom of the foot.Often they can burst, which causes discomfort and pain, accompanied by severe itching and burning, maceration of the skin and damage to the skin of the leg from the inside.A fungal infection can lead to a bacterial infection, which will develop in response to a decrease in the strength of the body's immune defenses.
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.
Topical treatment of foot fungus is carried out with the help of external drugs, for example varnishes, powders, gels, sprays, tonics, ointments and creams.
Systemic therapy includes the use of drugs for internal use, prescribed in case of prolonged circulation of the causative agent of fungal infection in the blood in the later stages of the disease, when the use of drugs locally does not give the desired effect.Systemic therapy as an independent method of eliminating fungi is rarely prescribed, since it is most often combined with the use of external fungicidal drugs, which is called combined treatment.
Experts have found that groups of drugs such as allylamines and azoles deal best with foot fungus.Medicines containing active ingredients from the group of allylamines or azoles suppress the activity of fungi, slow down their growth, stop reproduction and digest the mycelium - the products of their vital activity.
The most common components found in antifungal topicals are naftifine, terbinafine, butenafine, itraconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, and miconazole.Dermatologists often advise people suffering from fungal foot infections to take medication to target the external source of the infection.The course of treatment is from 7 to 10 days.
Medicines for oral administration are prescribed by doctors very carefully and only in extreme cases, when the fungus has already caused serious damage to human health or continues to actively multiply, despite the regular use of local antifungal agents.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 the fight against the pathogenic activity of fungi.
Dermatologists most often prescribe drugs with active ingredients terbinafine and itraconazole for internal use, prescribing an individual dosage regimen.Adults are prescribed a course of treatment lasting several weeks, sometimes several months, if the disease is already in an advanced stage.Itraconazole tablets and capsules are taken 2 tablets at a dose of 100 mg every day for at least one week, the substance terbinafine is taken daily at a dose of 250 mg for 7 to 20 days.
Systematic observance of the basic rules of prevention, regular washing of personal belongings, wearing high-quality comfortable shoes and periodic treatment of clothes 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 course of treatment, which can subsequently negatively affect your overall health.