Understanding Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are one of the commonest ailments affecting animals worldwide, and humans are not exempt. There are many different types of fungal infections, including:

•Candida: this is a yeast infection and causes thrush. Amongst the types of thrush you can develop are vaginal thrush, oral thrush and jock’s itch.

•Tinea: this is the infection responsible for causing fungal nail infections. If you’re nails have a yellow tinge and are very brittle, then it’s likely you have a tinea infection. It can also affect the hair follicles. It commonly goes by the name of ringworm.

•Athlete’s foot: this occurs on the feet, most commonly between the toes. It’s incredibly itch and very uncomfortable.

There are different treatments for different types of fungal infection, and the best place to find the correct treatment is to discuss the problem with an anti fungal pharmacy. An anti fungal pharmacy will have specialist knowledge of the various strains of fungus and the best way to tackle a particular strain.

What Causes Fungal Infections?

Fungal infections happen when you are exposed to the fungus. This can happen in many different ways. For example, if you use somebody’s hairbrush and that person has tinea around the hair follicles, you can catch it too. Other common places to pick up an infection include swimming pools, baths & showers, gym equipment and from other animals – specifically dogs and cats.

Who Develops Fungal Infections?

Anyone can catch a fungal infection. However, certain people are more susceptible to fungal infections than others are:

1.Children are more likely to develop an infection than adults are. This is because their immune systems are less well developed. They don’t yet have the flora needed to fight off an infection.

2.People who have recently taken, or are currently taking, an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill off the bacteria that we need to fight the infection. A healthy person will have a whole system of friendly bacteria with which we have a symbiotic relationship. This bacteria lives on, and in, our bodies and when bad bacteria (i.e. a fungal infection) is present, they fight it.

3.Women are more susceptible to thrush. This is because hormone fluctuations create imbalances in friendly bacteria. However, young men are more susceptible to jock’s itch.

4.People that live in urban areas are more susceptible because they are exposed to fungal infections more frequently.

5.Old people are susceptible because they have weakened immune systems.

In short, most people will have a fungal infection at some point in their lives. Those who don’t develop an infection are extremely lucky.

How Do We Treat Fungal Infections?

As well as being one of the most common infections, it’s also one of the easiest to treat. There are many different treatments and the one that works depends on the fungal infection you have. For example, a medicine that tackles thrush will not work on ringworm.

If you have a fungal infection, then the best place to find reliable advice is from an anti fungal pharmacy or high street pharmacy.