Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Part I Clinical Syndromes – General
- Part II Clinical Syndromes – Head and Neck
- Part III Clinical Syndromes – Eye
- Part IV Clinical Syndromes – Skin and Lymph Nodes
- 17 Fever and Rash
- 18 Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Toxic Shock and Kawasaki Syndromes
- 19 Classic Viral Exanthems
- 20 Skin Ulcer and Pyoderma
- 21 Cellulitis and Erysipelas
- 22 Deep Soft-Tissue Infections: Necrotizing Fasciitis and Gas Gangrene
- 23 Human and Animal Bites
- 24 Lice, Scabies, and Myiasis
- 25 Superficial Fungal Diseases of the Hair, Skin, and Nails
- 26 Mycetoma (Madura Foot)
- 27 Fever and Lymphadenopathy
- Part V Clinical Syndromes – Respiratory Tract
- Part VI Clinical Syndromes – Heart and Blood Vessels
- Part VII Clinical Syndromes – Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical Syndromes – Genitourinary Tract
- Part IX Clinical Syndromes – Musculoskeletal System
- Part X Clinical Syndromes – Neurologic System
- Part XI The Susceptible Host
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial Infection
- Part XIV Infections Related to Surgery and Trauma
- Part XV Prevention of Infection
- Part XVI Travel and Recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific Organisms – Bacteria
- Part XIX Specific Organisms – Spirochetes
- Part XX Specific Organisms – Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific Organisms – Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific Organisms – Fungi
- Part XXIII Specific Organisms – Viruses
- Part XXIV Specific Organisms – Parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial Therapy – General Considerations
- Index
25 - Superficial Fungal Diseases of the Hair, Skin, and Nails
from Part IV - Clinical Syndromes – Skin and Lymph Nodes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Part I Clinical Syndromes – General
- Part II Clinical Syndromes – Head and Neck
- Part III Clinical Syndromes – Eye
- Part IV Clinical Syndromes – Skin and Lymph Nodes
- 17 Fever and Rash
- 18 Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Toxic Shock and Kawasaki Syndromes
- 19 Classic Viral Exanthems
- 20 Skin Ulcer and Pyoderma
- 21 Cellulitis and Erysipelas
- 22 Deep Soft-Tissue Infections: Necrotizing Fasciitis and Gas Gangrene
- 23 Human and Animal Bites
- 24 Lice, Scabies, and Myiasis
- 25 Superficial Fungal Diseases of the Hair, Skin, and Nails
- 26 Mycetoma (Madura Foot)
- 27 Fever and Lymphadenopathy
- Part V Clinical Syndromes – Respiratory Tract
- Part VI Clinical Syndromes – Heart and Blood Vessels
- Part VII Clinical Syndromes – Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical Syndromes – Genitourinary Tract
- Part IX Clinical Syndromes – Musculoskeletal System
- Part X Clinical Syndromes – Neurologic System
- Part XI The Susceptible Host
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial Infection
- Part XIV Infections Related to Surgery and Trauma
- Part XV Prevention of Infection
- Part XVI Travel and Recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific Organisms – Bacteria
- Part XIX Specific Organisms – Spirochetes
- Part XX Specific Organisms – Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific Organisms – Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific Organisms – Fungi
- Part XXIII Specific Organisms – Viruses
- Part XXIV Specific Organisms – Parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial Therapy – General Considerations
- Index
Summary
The vast majority of fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails are caused by the dermatophytes, and yeasts including Candida species and Malassezia furfur. Because these entities can mimic nonfungal diseases, proper diagnosis is essential. Some fungi causing systemic infections may begin as cutaneous lesions. In most cases, potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation, culture, and or biopsy can give a definitive diagnosis. Treatment may involve topical and/or systemic antifungal therapy.
THE DERMATOPHYTES
The dermatophytes are keratinophilic organisms that are found in specific ecological niches. Those found in the soil are referred to as geophilic organisms. Some primarily infect hair, skin, and nails of humans and are transmitted human to human (anthropophilic), and others are mainly found in fur, feathers, skin, and nails of animals (zoophilic). When transmitted to humans, zoophilic and geophilic organisms tend to be much more inflammatory than anthropophilic organisms. Factors precluding dermatophycosis include inoculum size, host immune status, the particular organism, a suitable environment, fungal growth rate exceeding epidermal turnover, and in certain instances the host genetics.
The term tinea refers to dermatophycosis or a dermatophyte infection due to one of the following genera: Epidermophyton, Trichophyton, or Microsporum. Dermatophyte infections are described by their location on the body: tinea capitis (scalp), tinea corporis (glabrous skin), tinea faciei (face), tinea cruris (groin), tinea manuum (hand), tinea pedis (feet), tinea barbae (beard), and tinea unguium (nails).
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- Information
- Clinical Infectious Disease , pp. 173 - 180Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008