Many fungal diseases stay on the surface of your skin. While this can be dangerous, it doesn’t usually spread to other organs. However, there are more invasive types of fungal infection.
Certain fungi can necrotize your soft tissue. This is incredibly dangerous. Additionally, it can develop quickly and doctors aren’t always aware of the risk.
So what do you need to know about these diseases? Are you at risk of contracting a flesh-eating fungal infection? Here are some questions you might have about this kind of infection.
How Does It Develop?
Flesh-eating fungal infection is also called mucormycosis.
This infection cuts off the blood supply to your soft tissues. Hence, your tissues simply rot. Mucormycosis is frequently deadly.
How Prevalent Is It?
It is a fairly rare form of fungal disease. Doctors say that it appears after certain natural disasters. In the US, there was a deadly outbreak of it in a New Orleans pediatric hospital.
Why do natural disasters play a part of how this disease spreads? Hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis create an unusually damp environment. The spores of this fungus spread more easily in those conditions.
Who Is the Most at Risk?
People who have flaring diabetes are likelier to contract this type of disease. Additionally, a weak immune system can make you more vulnerable to it. Leukemia patients are at a high risk because of the treatments they receive.
But there are also some other risk factors. Malnourished people are in danger of it. Wounds can increase your risk too.
What About Treatment?
There are a few treatment options that can help. But it’s important to treat the infection as soon as possible. So people who participate in disaster relief have to be aware of this risk.
