Superficial Fungal Infections

The document from 12 years ago discussed superficial fungal infections, which are often mistaken for other common diseases. These infections are caused by pathogenic fungi and are limited to the human hair, nails, epidermis, and mucosa. Despite not being dangerous or life-threatening, they are significant due to their worldwide distribution, frequency, person-to-person transmission, and morbidity. Severe infections or those resistant to treatment could indicate an underlying immunodeficiency. The three most common types of these infections are dermatophytosis (tinea or ringworm), pityriasis versicolor (formerly tinea versicolor), and candidiasis (moniliasis). Dermatophytes, a large group of related fungi that can infect human skin, hair, and nails, are found in soil, on animals, and on humans. The epidemiology of tinea capitis, a type of dermatophytosis, has changed, necessitating adaptations in diagnostic techniques.