Assignment: Microbiology

Topic: Fungal Disease in Human

Name: Saba Abid
Roll. No: BSZ-18-32
Submitted to: Dr. Syeda Amber Hameed
Semester: 8th (Morning)
Department: BS-Zoology

Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan

Fungal Disease in Human:
Fungal Disease:
A fungal infection, also called mycosis, is a skin disease caused by a fungus. There are millions
of species of fungi. They live in the dirt, on plants, on household surfaces, and on your skin.
Sometimes, they can lead to skin problems like rashes or bumps.

Types of Fungal Disease

Most common fungal diseases:
1. Fungal Nail Infections:
Fungal nail infections are common infections of the fingernails or toenails that can cause the
nail to become discolored, thick, and more likely to crack and break. Infections are more
common in toenails than fingernails. The technical name for a fungal nail infection is
“onychomycosis.”
Symptoms:
Nails with a fungal infection are often:

 Discolored (yellow, brown, or white)

 Thick
 Fragile or cracked
A fungal nail infection usually isn’t painful unless it becomes severe. Some people who have
fungal toenail infections also have a fungal skin infection on the foot, especially between the toes
(commonly called “athlete’s foot”).

2. Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus:

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida. Candida
normally lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and
vagina, without causing any problems. Sometimes, Candida can multiply and cause an infection
if the environment inside the mouth, throat, or esophagus changes in a way that encourages
fungal growth.
Symptoms:

 Candida infection illustration

 Candidiasis in the mouth and throat can have many different symptoms, including:
 White patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, roof of the mouth, and throat (photo showing
candidiasis in the mouth)
 Redness or soreness
 Cotton-like feeling in the mouth
 Loss of taste
 Pain while eating or swallowing
  Cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth
3. Fungal Eye Infections:
Fungal eye infections are extremely rare, but they can be very serious. The most
common way for someone to develop a fungal eye infection is as a result of an eye injury,
particularly if the injury was caused by plant material such as a stick or a thorn.

Symptoms of Fungal Eye Infections:

The symptoms of a fungal eye infection can show up anytime from several days to
several weeks after an exposure. Fungal eye infection symptoms are similar to those of
other types of eye infections (like those caused by bacteria) and can include:

 Eye pain
 Eye redness
 Blurred vision
 Sensitivity to light
 Excessive tearing
 Eye discharge
4. C. gattii Infection:
Cryptococcus gattii is a fungus that lives in the environment in primarily tropical and sub-
tropical areas of the world but also in some temperate regions such as British Columbia and
some parts of the United States. C. gattii cryptococcosis is a rare infection that people can get
after breathing in the microscopic fungus. The infection can affect the lungs, central nervous
system, or other parts of the body.
Symptoms of C. gattii Infection:
C. gattii usually infects the lungs or the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), but
it can also affect other parts of the body. The symptoms of the infection depend on the parts of
the body that are affected.
In Lungs:
A C. gattii infection in the lungs can cause a pneumonia-like illness. The symptoms are often
similar to those of many other illnesses, and can include:

 Cough
 Shortness of breath
 Chest pain
 Fever
In the brain (cryptococcal meningitis)
Cryptococcal meningitis is an infection caused by C. gattii and other types of Cryptococcus after
it spreads from the lungs to the brain, but patients can have a brain infection without a lung
infection. The symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis include:

 Headache
  Fever
 Confusion or changes in behavior
 Neck pain
 Nausea and vomiting
 Sensitivity to light
5. Aspergillosis:
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives
indoors and outdoors. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick.
Symptoms of Aspergillosis:
The different types of aspergillosis can cause different symptoms.
The symptoms of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) are similar to asthma
symptoms, including:

 Wheezing
 Shortness of breath
 Cough
 Fever (in rare cases)
Symptoms of allergic Aspergillus sinusitis include:

 Stuffiness
 Runny nose
 Headache
 Reduced ability to smell
Symptoms of an aspergilloma (“fungus ball”) include:

 Cough
 Coughing up blood
 Shortness of breath
Symptoms of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis include:

 Weight loss
 Cough
 Coughing up blood
 Fatigue
 Shortness of breath
Invasive aspergillosis usually occurs in people who are already sick from other medical
conditions, so it can be difficult to know which symptoms are related to an Aspergillus infection.
However, the symptoms of invasive aspergillosis in the lungs include:

 Fever
  Chest pain
 Cough
 Coughing up blood
 Shortness of breath
Other symptoms can develop if the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body.

6. Pneumocystis pneumonia:
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a serious infection caused by the fungus Pneumocystis
jirovecii. Most people who get PCP have a medical condition that weakens their immune system,
like HIV/AIDS, or take medicines (such as corticosteroids) that lower the body’s ability to fight
germs and sickness.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of PCP can develop over several days or weeks and include:

 Fever
 Cough
 Difficulty breathing
 Chest pain
 Chills