Sporotrichosis
overview
Symptoms Of Sporotrichosis
Symptoms often begin in a mild form during the first weeks after infection, and the most prominent symptoms of sporotrichosis:
1. Symptoms of cutaneous sporotrichosis
- A firm bump on the skin, the color of which ranges from pink to purple.
- Holding but mostly painless.
- An ulcer.
It should be noted that in most 60% of cases, mold spreads along the lymph nodes and over time the nodules spread to the affected arm or leg.
In rare
cases, the infection may spread to other body parts, such as bones and joints,
lungs, and the brain, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
2. Symptoms of pulmonary sporotrichosis
They include the following:
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Cough.
- Fever.
- Exhaustion.
- Unintentional weight loss.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Sporotrichosis
1. Causes of Cutaneous Sporotrichosis
Spore trichinosis usually occurs when mold accumulates under the skin caused by a pink fork or a sharp stick, rarely cats or animals can transmit this disease.
Also, the presence of open wounds on the skin may increase the risk of developing sporotrichosis.
2. Causes of Pulmonary Sporotrichosis
In rare cases, the fungus can be inhaled or swallowed, causing infection in other parts of the body other than the skin, such as the lung.
Complications of Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis
of the skin or lymph nodes usually does not cause any serious complications,
however, a person may develop open ulcers, which cause what is known as
cellulitis.
Sometimes the rash can affect the eyes and cause what is known as conjunctivitis or pink eye, and it is worth noting that some cases may become permanent if the infection is left untreated.
Diagnosis of Sporotrichosis
The doctor
conducts tests to confirm the diagnosis of sporotrichosis, which include a
biopsy of one of the nodules which are examined under a microscope to determine
the type of mold.
The doctor may also recommend blood tests that help detect severe forms of cutaneous sporotrichosis.
Treatment of Sporotrichosis
The
treatment of sporotrichosis depends on the affected site of the disease, they
include:
1. Treatment
of skin infections
This
infection is treated with a supersaturated potassium iodide solution
(Supersaturated potassium iodide solution), which is used for 3 - 6 months
until all symptoms disappear.
Itraconazole can also be used for up to six months.
2. Treatment
of sporotrichosis infection of bones and joints
If the
sporotrichosis infection spreads to the bones and joints, it is difficult to
treat this infection, and most often Itraconazole is used as it is rare to
respond to potassium iodide treatment.
Amphotericin
can also be used intravenously for several months, and in some cases, the
doctor may resort to surgery to remove the affected bone.
3. Treatment
of lung infection
Pneumonitis
is treated with potassium iodide, itraconazole, and, amphotericin but in
varying doses.
Sometimes
the doctor may have to perform surgery to remove the affected areas of the
lung.
4. Treatment
of brain infection
There is no information available on the treatment of meningitis caused by sporotrichosis as it is rare, but amphotericin 5 is usually used in addition to fluorocytosine.
Prevention Of Sporotrichosis
The most
prominent methods of preventing sporotrichosis are:
- People who work with flowers or straw, Moss should cover cracks or wounds in the skin.
- It is advisable to wear long boots and gloves to prevent wounds and infection with sporotrichosis.
- Long sleeves and long trousers will help protect against wound infection.
People became infected with sporotrichosis in Brazil from contact with cats. This form
of sporotrichosis (Sporothrix brasiliensis) is not found in the United States. But in recent days it has appeared in the UK for the first time ever, be careful with unfamiliar animals, especially cats. Bites and scratches of cats can spread the fungus that causes this and other diseases. This fungus is most often spread by stray cats and domestic cats allowed outdoors.
For more information related to the same topic, you can look at this article from the CDC Journal.
