Phaeohyphomycosis is a fungal infection that can be caused by inhaling fungi or following trauma. It commonly appears subcutaneously and can be treated with antifungal drugs, immune boosters, and surgery. It can also occur in the brain and central nervous system.
Pheohyphomycosis is a fungal infection that causes a cyst to form in which the organisms can continue to reproduce. The term “phaeohyphomycosis” refers specifically to infections by dark, yeast-like cells or structures known as hyphae. A doctor may take a sample from the site of the infection for evaluation and culture it in a laboratory to determine which organism is responsible and whether phaeohyphomycosis or another type of fungal infection is the problem.
This type of infection can develop when a patient inhales fungi or when spores are introduced following trauma. For example, the patient might pick up a splinter from a fence post and the splinter could drive fungal spores under the skin layers. Immunocompromised patients are more likely to develop pheohyphomycosis, because their bodies cannot resist developing a fungal colony. Mostly healthy patients may be able to fight off the fungi before they cause infection.
This condition commonly appears subcutaneously. The patient may experience symptoms such as itching and discomfort before a dark bloom begins to spread under the skin. It may be accompanied by swelling as a cyst begins to develop. The cyst typically has dark walls and may be flexible or pliable to the touch, if the patient can palpate it. A doctor may take a sample with a needle aspiration biopsy or scrape, if fungi are growing on the skin’s surface.
Rarely, phaeohyphomycosis can occur in the brain and central nervous system. The patient is usually extremely ill before inhaling mushrooms which manage to spread to the brain. In this case, the infection will not be visible immediately. The patient might develop cognitive deficits such as poor coordination, difficulty remembering things, and attitude changes. A brain image may show a cyst within the brain and the patient may have elevated pressure within the skull due to the infection.
Treatment of phaeohyphomycosis relies on a culture to determine what is causing the infection and an appropriate antifungal drug. Your doctor might give you a large loading dose to kill as many of the fungi as possible. Some patients need supplemental medications to boost immune function or deal with complications. Surgery may also be a necessity in some cases to remove the cyst. Patients being treated for phaeohyphomycosis may discuss their options with a doctor to decide which one is best for their needs and may wish to consider aggressive treatment to prevent a systemic infection.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
