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Facts on Fungal or Yeast Infections



The name “fungal” makes many people cringe.  It is often linked with being unclean, which is not really a fair assessment, since a fungal infection can occur for a number of different reasons. It’s important to make sure your patients understand this, as many are embarrassed by fungal infections.

 

Fungal Infection Facts


Fungi are not plants or animals. Although once thought to be plants, it is now known otherwise.  Fungal spores live in the air or soil, so it’s not difficult for a person to contract an infection.  Rarely serious, it’s often the embarrassment of the sight and mention of the condition that is most difficult.  Patients with fungal infections can try treating them with over the counter medications, but in many cases this is not successful, and stronger treatment is required.  When treating a patient with a fungal infection, keep in mind they are probably embarrassed about their condition.  Assure your patient that fungal infections are much more common than most people realize. Some people don’t even know they have them. The main concern is treating the condition so that excess scratching does not create a bacterial infection. 

 

Tips to Keep Fungal Infections Away


Sometimes it cannot be prevented, the spores overcome the skin and the body is left with an itchy red, or scaly rash, that is unsightly and uncomfortable.  When the contamination comes from the ground or an air contaminant, there is no prevention, other than making sure you wear shoes outdoors.  When the body gets an overgrowth of the right contaminants, the result can be a fungal infection.  They most often occur increases, and closed or covered areas on the skin.  Many obese people may suffer from an overgrowth of yeast under their abdomen, or breasts, and occasionally the bend of the legs.  Patients should be advised to pay careful attention to these specific areas.  Making sure they are clean and dried well is one way to keep yeast from taking over.  Certain powders have ingredients that help combat the growth of yeast, while keeping the area dry, this is a great option for creases within the skin. 

 

Fungal Infections Treatments


There are numerous treatments for yeast/fungal infections.  Athlete foot cream is the most common and popular over the counter medication.  For more severe cases a prescription may be required.  There are some homes remedies that many people say work great, Listerine is one that many sufferers of athlete’s foot have used with great success.  The best advice is to have the patient discuss what the best course of treatment is, with the physician. 
It is important to treat a fungal infection, especially if it is in an area that could lead to further complications.  Many people have yeast that live within those nasal passages.  In most circumstances, the fungus does not multiply or create a problem, and the individual never even knows there is a problem.  However, on occasion, this can get out of control and grow rapidly to the point that the body cannot keep up and fight the yeast growth.  This will most likely result in a special nasal rinse being prescribed combined with proper drying, and a topical medication to be applied.
 
This can often come as a result of an individual being on antibiotics.  Antibiotics can create an imbalance in good/bad bacteria, leading to a yeast infection, which can occur anywhere, however often occurs vaginally.  Generally, once a course of antibiotics is completed, the yeast infection then clears up on its own. 

 

Severe Yeast Infection


Truthfully, you can get a yeast infection just about anywhere that bacteria has room to hide. Such a place includes your navel.  This could come from failure to clean the navel properly.  An overgrowth of yeast on the skin in that area becomes a problem. It can become inflamed, warm to the touch, and obviously needing treatment.  This condition can continue for some time without treatment, and the infection that results can travel inward, and cause contamination within the abdomen.  While an unusual situation, it is possible if proper treatment is not utilized, especially when it comes to an overgrowth of yeast bacteria. 

When treating a patient that has a fungal infection, you should use the normal precautions to protect your skin from being contaminated.  Most fungal infections are not highly contagious, however in some cases they can spread from person to person, so it’s best to take precautions.  Maintaining a healthy diet, washing hands frequently, and keeping a healthy immune system is generally enough to prevent a fungal infection.  In most cases these conditions are easily treated, with no lasting side effects.  Advise patients with recurrent yeast infections to keep all parts of the body dry, and use a medicated powder within the folds of skin. 
 

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