Fungal Skin Infections Flashcards
What are superficial fungal infections
Common and mild infection of the superficial skin layers, nails and hair
Three main groups of causative fungi
Dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds
Eg of dermatophytes
Tinea/ringworm
Eg of yeasts
Candidiasis, malassezia
Eg of moulds
Aspergillus
Presentation of tinea corporis
Itchy, circular or annular lesions with a clearly defined raised and scaly edge, trunk and limbs
Presentation of tinea pedis
‘Athletes foot’, moist scaling and fissuring in toewebs, spreading to sole and dorsal foot
Presentation of tinea capitis
Scalp ringworm, patches of broken hair, scaling and inflammation
Presentation of candidiasis
White plaques on mucosal areas, erythema with satellite lesions in flexures
Presentation of tinea ungulum
Infection of the nail, yellow discolouration, thickened and crumbly nail
Presentation of pityriasis
Infection with Malassezia furfur - scaly brown patches on upper trunk, that fail to tan on sun exposure
Establishing diagnosis of fungal infections
Skin scrapings, skin swabs
Management of fungal infections
Topical or oral antifungals, avoid use of topical steroids, correct predisposing factors
Eg of topical antifungal
Terbinafine cream
Eg of oral antifungal
Itraconazole
