Sporotrichosis - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by a fungus. Sporotrichosis usually begins when mold spores are forced under the skin by a rose thorn or sharp stick Osteoarticular sporotrichosis occurs from direct inoculation or hematogenous seeding. The mold is found on rose thorns, hay, sphagnum moss, twigs, and soil. It infects the skin. Symptom is usually a small painless bump resembling an insect bite. It can be red, pink, or purple in color. Disseminated infection occurs with disseminated cutaneous lesions and involvement of multiple visceral organs; this occurs most commonly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Infection usually is recognized in adults in the developed world. Infection may be more common in children and adolescents in tropical regions and in areas of hyperendemicity. Sporotrichosis is slightly more common in males than in females, presumably due to a higher exposure risk rather than to a sex difference in susceptibility.

Sporotrichosis is a chronic disease with slow progression and often subtle symptoms. The fungus spreads from the initial lesion along lymphatic channels, forming the chain of indolent nodular and ulcerating lesions that typifies the lymphocutaneous form of the disease. One or more additional bumps or nodules which open and may resemble boils.The bump (nodule) usually appears on the finger, hand, or arm where the fungus first enters through a break on the skin. It is difficult to diagnose, as many other diseases share similar symptoms and therefore must be ruled out. Control measures include wearing gloves and long sleeves when handling pine seedlings, rose bushes, hay bales or other plants that may cause minor skin breaks.

Causes of Sporotrichosis

Common causes of Sporotrichosis

• Infection( S schenckii).
• Zoonotic transmission.
• Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV).

Symptoms of Sporotrichosis

Common Symptoms of Sporotrichosis

• Painless.
• Chest pain.
• Cough..
• Swelling.
• Skin lesions.

Treatment of Sporotrichosis

Common Treatment of Sporotrichosis

• Sporotrichosis is generally treated with potassium iodide, taken by mouth in droplet form.
• Control measures include wearing gloves and long sleeves when handling wires, rose bushes, hay bales, conifer (pine) seedlings, or other materials that may cause minor skin breaks.
• Safer sex behavior can help prevent infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• People with compromised immune systems should try to minimize exposure by taking measures like wearing thick gloves while gardening.
• Itraconazole (Sporanox) is often used as an initial medication for several months or even up to a year. Amphotericin is also used, but this medicine can only be given through an IV.
• Ulcers should be kept clean and covered until they are healed.

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