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Is Fungal Skin Infection Contagious?
Question: I was in Haiti a year ago last September. My daughter adopted a little boy. He had fungal infection on his head and arms. Since we returned I have had fungal infection on my chin, I have had pneumonia 2 times and bronchitis once. So has my daughters family. Could we have the fungus in our lungs?
Brief Answer:
Skin infection probably due to contact.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query at HCM
I understand your concern and situation.
Yes it could be possible that the fungal infection could be a dermatophytic or candidal infection and it is causing skin infection you will have to apply fungal topical agents.
Tinea corporis or cruris occurs on boby parts red ring shaped lesion, red scaly itchy which can be contacted from someone who already had the infection as likely in your case.
Keep the area clean and dry. You can get skin scrapping done and send for fungal microscopy examination to know which fungal infection under your physician guidance. There are variety of antifungal available which require prescription. But coming to your pneumonia it seems unrelated. You must get proper evaluation of respiratory system by your physician.
Fungus like aspergillus usually causes allergic lung problem and normally not transmitted.
Viral infections can be transmitted among family members and are usually self limiting. Pneumocystis infection can cause pneumonia in immune compromised individuals.
Don't smoke and avoid dust. You can also get HIV test done for all family members if there are repeated infections occurring in family which suggest some immunocompromised condition prevailing among members.
I hope I answered your query
Take care
If no query you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Infectious diseases Specialist
Skin infection probably due to contact.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query at HCM
I understand your concern and situation.
Yes it could be possible that the fungal infection could be a dermatophytic or candidal infection and it is causing skin infection you will have to apply fungal topical agents.
Tinea corporis or cruris occurs on boby parts red ring shaped lesion, red scaly itchy which can be contacted from someone who already had the infection as likely in your case.
Keep the area clean and dry. You can get skin scrapping done and send for fungal microscopy examination to know which fungal infection under your physician guidance. There are variety of antifungal available which require prescription. But coming to your pneumonia it seems unrelated. You must get proper evaluation of respiratory system by your physician.
Fungus like aspergillus usually causes allergic lung problem and normally not transmitted.
Viral infections can be transmitted among family members and are usually self limiting. Pneumocystis infection can cause pneumonia in immune compromised individuals.
Don't smoke and avoid dust. You can also get HIV test done for all family members if there are repeated infections occurring in family which suggest some immunocompromised condition prevailing among members.
I hope I answered your query
Take care
If no query you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Infectious diseases Specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
What type of test should I ask for to check for a fungal infection? My Haitian grandson is 4 and has had pneumonia 6 times in last year & a half. Is it possible that it is related to his skin infections or some other lung issue?
Brief Answer:
It could be tests needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello
It is likely that it is other lung ailment. But if he is immunocompromized with low immunity it could be fungal infection also. Get blood sugar, HIV and other immunological tests done. If sputum is coming then or with brochoaleveolar lavage or bronchoscopy sample can be collected and send for routine fungal microscipy examination and culture. If repeated same organism comes it is the cause of infection.
Definitive diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infection can be also be tested by antigen detection, PCR TEST, serological assays, CT Scan broncoscopy, videoassisted thorascopic biopsy, PET scanning, etc. Depending on agents found anti fungal therapy will be needed like amphotericin B, flucytosine, and azoleagents or newer anti fungal drugs, like echinocandins.
Mycoses, including histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, andcoccidioidomycosis; aspergillosis could be cause. Visit a pulmonologist.
Take care.
If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer and write a review.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
It could be tests needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello
It is likely that it is other lung ailment. But if he is immunocompromized with low immunity it could be fungal infection also. Get blood sugar, HIV and other immunological tests done. If sputum is coming then or with brochoaleveolar lavage or bronchoscopy sample can be collected and send for routine fungal microscipy examination and culture. If repeated same organism comes it is the cause of infection.
Definitive diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infection can be also be tested by antigen detection, PCR TEST, serological assays, CT Scan broncoscopy, videoassisted thorascopic biopsy, PET scanning, etc. Depending on agents found anti fungal therapy will be needed like amphotericin B, flucytosine, and azoleagents or newer anti fungal drugs, like echinocandins.
Mycoses, including histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, andcoccidioidomycosis; aspergillosis could be cause. Visit a pulmonologist.
Take care.
If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer and write a review.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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