Mycoses: Most Effective Dietary Supplements

Mycoses are infections caused by microscopic fungi that can proliferate on the skin, nails, or mucous membranes. These fungi, which include genera like Candida, Pityrosporum, and Aspergillus, can be naturally present on our skin without causing issues, but under certain conditions, they can lead to infections called mycoses.

Risk Factors

The development of mycoses is favored by several factors: • Local conditions: humidity, heat, lack of hygiene, excessive sweating, maceration in shoes. • Medications: antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, oral contraceptives with high estrogen content. • Pathophysiological changes: weakened immune system (patients on immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, HIV), uncontrolled hyperglycemia.

Types of Mycoses

Mycoses can be classified based on the affected area:Cutaneous mycoses: Affect large skin folds (intertrigo) and nails. Mucosal mycoses: Affect mucous membranes like the oropharynx (oral thrush) and genital organs (candidiasis).Deep mycoses: Generally affect immunocompromised individuals, such as aspergillosis and cryptococcosis.

Symptoms

Symptoms of mycoses vary depending on the type of infection: • Cutaneous mycoses: red patches, oozing, itching, crusts. • Mucosal mycoses: redness of the mucous membranes, whitish coating, itching, pain. • Deep mycoses: respiratory symptoms (for lung infections), deep skin lesions, sometimes severe systemic symptoms.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of superficial mycoses is generally made through clinical examination and direct observation of lesions. For deep or invasive mycoses, complementary methods such as histochemical staining, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology are necessary. These techniques confirm the presence of the fungus in tissues and determine the exact species involved.

Treatment

Superficial mycoses: topical antifungals (creams, ointments), sometimes combined with oral antifungals for more extensive or resistant infections. Deep mycoses: require hospital management with powerful systemic antifungals (oral or intravenous) and close monitoring, especially in immunocompromised patients.