Fungal infections are diseases characterized by skin rash and itching, which can be transmitted from person to person and in some cases from animals to people on wet floors or by the use of common items (towels, clothes, slippers, combs). The incidence increases especially in summer due to conditions such as wetness, humidity and sweating. In nail fungus, separation of the nail bed, yellowing, opacification and thickening of the nail plate are observed. In regions with low socioeconomic level, the scalp fungal infection seen especially in boys causes abscesses, cystic lesions with discharge and permanent hair loss is seen. Pityrasis Versicolor (Tinea Versicolor) is characterized by thin dandruff pale or dark brown non-itchy spots on the skin, which are observed as a result of the increase in the number of a fungus species called “Malassezia furfur” which is the normal flora element of our skin. Its frequency increases with sweating in summer. Candida infection is a type of fungus that can be seen in the normal flora of our body, skin, nail tissue and mucosa. In babies, with white-colored thrush on the tongue in babies, redness in the diaper area, swellingand in adults itchy rash, dandruff and red blisters in the fold areas such as armpits, groin and breasts. Its incidence has increased in diabetic individuals and bedridden patients.
In the diagnosis of fungal infections, the scrapings, hair or nail samples taken from the skin are dissolved with KOH and examined under a microscope (native examination) and culture methods are used.