Medical Health Encyclopedia

Sporotrichosis


InjuryDiseasesNutritionPoison
SymptomsSurgeryTestSpecial Topic
Sporotrichosis on the arm
Sporotrichosis on the arm
Sporotrichosis on the forearm
Sporotrichosis on the forearm
Sporotrichosis on the hand and arm
Sporotrichosis on the hand and arm
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Definition

Sporotrichosis is a long-term (chronic) skin infection due to a certain fungus.


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Sporotrichosis is caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii, which is found in vegetation. Infection commonly occurs when the skin is broken while handling plant materials such as rosebushes, briars, or mulch-rich dirt.

Sporotrichosis can be a job-related disease (for farmers, horticulturists, rose gardeners, and plant nursery workers). Widespread (disseminated) sporotrichosis can develop in people with compromised immune systems when they inhale dust filled with spores.



Review Date: 05/25/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PHD, MD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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