Sporotrichosis

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Sporotrichosis on the arm

Sporotrichosis on the forearm

Sporotrichosis on the hand and arm

Symptoms include a small, painless, red lump that develops at the site of infection and eventually turns into an ulcer. The lump may develop up to 3 months after an injury.

Sores are often on the hands and forearm, because these areas are common injury sites.

The fungus follows lymphatic channels in the body. Small ulcers appear in lines on the skin as the infection goes up an arm or leg. These sores do not heal unless they are treated and may remain for years. The nodules may drain small amounts of pus from time to time.

Body-wide (systemic) sporotrichosis can cause lung and breathing problems, bone infection, arthritis, and infection of the nervous system.

A physical examination reveals the typical sores. In some cases, a small sample of affected tissue is removed, examined under a microscope and cultured to identify the fungus.

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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