General description of the disease
According to studies, almost half of the world’s population is somehow carriers of the fungus. The immunity of a healthy person copes well with most types of pathogenic fungi, but some “unwanted guests” sometimes manage to gain a foothold.
Fungus is a disease that is provoked by pathogenic fungi. This is not just a cosmetic defect, in the body of an infected person, as a result of the multiplication of pathogenic fungi, poisonous toxins accumulate, which spread through the blood through the body.
Types of fungal infections
Mycoses are classified depending on the type of fungus and the place of its localization:
- 1 Onychomycosis is provoked by dermatophytes. Most of all, it is the nails that suffer from mycosis. Fungal infections often affect the parts of the body farthest from the bloodstream, as the blood contains immune cells.
- 2 Dermatomycosis Is a fungal infection of smooth skin. The infection appears on open areas of the body: arms, legs, chest, neck and face. Ringworm, tinea versicolor belongs to dermatomycosis.
- 3 Candidiasis provoke yeast fungi, they affect the mucous membranes. Attacking the female half of humanity, they cause thrush and vulvovaginitis, and in children they manifest as stomatitis.
- 4 Seborrhea, microsporia, favus, trichophytosis Are diseases of the scalp.
- 5 Mycosis of ENT organs[3].
The causes of fungal diseases
The most common cause of a fungal infection is a decrease in immunity. The body’s defenses are weakened and cannot fight fungi. Basically, the source of infection should be looked for at home:
- scales of the skin of a patient affected by mycosis;
- slippers;
- rugs;
- towel, washcloths and other hygiene and household items.
It is easy to get infected with mycosis and in crowded places: in the sauna, on the beach, in the pool, in the water park. High humidity and warm air increase the possibility of infection by several times. Mushrooms multiply rapidly, using the metabolic products of the skin for nutrition.
Long-term use of antibiotics can provoke mycosis. Antibiotics kill not only the infection, but also the beneficial bacteria, which automatically leads to the spread of the fungus. Therefore, quite often, taking antibiotics ends with thrush or stomatitis.
Diabetes mellitus creates conditions in the body for the spread of fungal infection: excess blood sugar and a weakened immune system are an ideal environment for the development of mycosis.
During pregnancy and menopause, women undergo serious hormonal changes in the body, which can provoke a fungal infection.
The negative impact of external factors of the atmosphere in the form of dust, vapors of alkalis and other toxic substances, smoking, strong alcoholic drinks aggressively affect the delicate mucous membrane of the larynx and can lead to the spread of mycosis.
The development of a fungus of ENT organs can cause carious teeth, as they are a constant source of infection. Treatment of the teeth of the upper jaw, the roots of which are in contact with the paranasal sinuses, can also cause the introduction of spores into this area. The cause of otomycosis can be the banal ingress of water into the ear while bathing or injury to the delicate skin of the outer ear.
Symptoms of fungal infections
Fungal lesions of the feet begins with peeling and dry feet. The patient may also be disturbed by itching and redness between the fingers. In case of increased sweating, calluses, itchy blisters and diaper rash may appear.
With onychomycosis toenails change color and shape, they crumble, crack, thicken and may separate from the nail bed. Fungal spores can live in nails for several years.
Dermatomycosis manifests itself on the face, arms, legs and other open areas in the form of a ring-shaped red rash.
Yeast stomatitis begins with the appearance of a white plaque on the oral mucosa. As the infection spreads, the foci merge and, scraping off the plaque, you can see the swollen, inflamed mucous membrane.
Thrush characterized by curdled discharge and itching. Vulvovaginitis is the most common female genital infection.
When the scalp is affected by the fungus, fragility and hair loss are observed.
Complications of fungal infections
Fungal infections most often occur against the background of a weakened immune system. With mycoses, immunity is significantly reduced, which contributes to the development of complications:
- 1 Mycoses of the skin in most cases are accompanied by skin diseases.
- 2 Untreated favus can lead to complete baldness.
- 3 Onychomycosis can lead to nail loss.
- 4 As a result of the disease, poisonous toxins accumulate in the body, which are carried with the blood throughout the body, which leads to a deterioration in metabolism.
Prevention of fungal diseases
- Do not go without shoes in public places: locker rooms and showers of fitness clubs, water parks, swimming pools.
- Treat damaged skin with disinfectant solutions.
- Buy comfortable shoes made from natural materials: leather, fabric or suede.
- Do not wear other people’s clothes, socks or slippers.
- Do not use other people’s towels, combs and washcloths.
- If you are visiting a nail salon, then buy your own personal tool kit.
- Practice good body hygiene.
- Monitor your immunity, eat enough fruits, berries and citrus fruits, and take vitamin complexes during the off-season.
Treatment of fungal diseases in official medicine
To prevent mycosis, various antifungal drugs are used, in addition to tablets, shampoos, powders, and lotions are used. Before treatment, it is necessary to pass an analysis in the laboratory and identify the causative agent of the disease.
Depending on the complexity and course of the disease, ointments, medicinal varnishes and creams for external treatment are prescribed, in severe cases, systemic agents are prescribed. With onychomycosis, it is sometimes necessary to remove the nail plate. Sinus fungus often requires surgery.
Oral antimycotic drugs are mostly toxic and have many side effects, so it is better to start treatment at the initial stage and limit yourself to local effects on the fungus.
Fighting mycosis is a rather lengthy process that can last for several months. The results of treatment can be judged not earlier than on the 7th day. After starting treatment with antifungal agents, continue it according to the annotation and the doctor’s recommendation, even if it seemed to you that you had recovered. For a stable result, do not stop taking medications within two weeks after the complete disappearance of clinical symptoms.
Useful foods for fungus
Properly selected foods help the body fight fungus and increase the effectiveness of treatment. First of all, you need to take care of increasing immunity and speedy skin regeneration. To do this, it is necessary to include the following foods in the diet:
- Garlic. This herb contains allicin, an effective antifungal agent. It is useful to eat a clove of garlic daily on an empty stomach.
- Cloves and cinnamon, which have anti-fungal properties. Clove oil can also be used topically by applying it to the affected skin.
- Lemons. Lemon juice has a beneficial effect on the liver, which plays an important role in the fight against fungi.
- Ginger root, which helps to strengthen the immune system and has an anti-fungal effect.
- Carrot juice, which is indicated for mucosal fungus. Juice can also be used to treat affected areas.
- Horseradish stabilizes the defenses of a weakened body.
- Natural yoghurts, preferably without additives.
- All types of cabbage and leafy greens.
- Vegetables fermented without sugar.
- Raw and boiled vegetables.
- Fermented milk products.
Traditional medicine for fungal diseases
- 1 Good results can be achieved in the treatment of even an advanced form of onychomycosis with hydrogen peroxide. To do this, you need to steam your feet in water with the addition of soda, then apply cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide to the sore nail and wrap the leg with cellophane. Keep the compress for at least an hour. Ideally, the procedure should be carried out 2-3 times a day for several weeks. Periodically throughout the day, it is necessary to instill hydrogen peroxide under the nail.
- 2 Garlic helps with skin fungus. On the affected skin, you can apply garlic gruel or wipe the sore spot with a piece of garlic, after soaking the clove in salt.
- 3 For foot fungus, compresses from ammonia are effective. Soak a piece of cotton cloth in ammonia, wrap around the leg and leave to dry completely.
- 4 Soda stops the spread of fungal infections. Apply gruel from baking soda and water to the affected areas.
- 5 Alcohol is effective at the initial stage of fungal infection.
- 6 Fresh celandine herb juice to lubricate skin areas damaged by the fungus[2].
- 7 With mycoses of the feet, compresses with vinegar help well, you can even sleep in socks soaked in vinegar.
- 8 You can get rid of the fungus between the toes by applying a gruel of crushed mint leaves and salt to the sore spots.
- 9 Pour lilac flowers with hot water and leave for 150-20 days. Lubricate the affected areas with the resulting tincture[1].
Dangerous and harmful foods with fungus
During treatment, in order not to contribute to the spread of the fungus, exclude the following foods from the diet:
- Potatoes, legumes, and other starch-rich foods.
- Reduce sugar and sugar-containing foods to a minimum, since fungal spores live off sugars.
- Alcohol, as it contains sugar and reduces immunity.
- Yeast baked goods, as yeast is also mushrooms.
- Kvass, as it also contains yeast.
- Moldy cheeses, because mold is also mushrooms.
- Sweet berries and fruits.
- Chocolate.
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The administration is not responsible for any attempt to apply any recipe, advice or diet, and also does not guarantee that the specified information will help or harm you personally. Be prudent and always consult an appropriate physician!
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!