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Chap. 13 - LIFE-THREATENING CUTANEOUS FUNGAL AND PARASITIC DISEASES
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- By Marcia Ramos-e-Silva, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Gustavo Costanza, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Sueli Coelho Carneiro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Edited by Ronni Wolf, Batya B. Davidovici, Jennifer L. Parish, Lawrence Charles Parish
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- Book:
- Emergency Dermatology
- Published online:
- 07 September 2011
- Print publication:
- 17 January 2011, pp 126-145
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Summary
CUTANEOUS FUNGAL and parasitic diseases are frequent and usually do not threaten the physical integrity of the patient. There are, however, some that may acquire a severe clinical picture and may even cause death. Some of the most important and/or dangerous of these life-threatening cutaneous fungal (as systemic candidosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, zygomycosis, and histoplasmosis) and parasitic diseases (Chagas disease, schistosomiasis amebiasis, and leishmaniasis) are discussed in this chapter.
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Systemic Candidosis
First observed by Langenbeck in 1839, the genus Candida suffered several taxonomic modifications until its present classification. It presents about 200 species of fungi and shelters the most important yeasts that infect mankind. Many species are opportunistic pathogens; however, the majority do not infect humans.
Although the last decade has observed an increase of infections by the non-albicans Candida species (such as C. tropicalis, C. glabra, C. krusei, C. dubliniensis, and C. parapsilosis), C. albicans remains the dimorphic yeast responsible for 70%–90% of all infections of this type. It is frequently found as a saprophyte of humans colonizing the mucosa of the digestive system, and by contiguity, the vaginal mucosa of the majority of mammals.
The term “candidiasis” or “candidosis” (more frequent in Canadian and UK literature) has a generic connotation and encompasses a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations.
11 - INFECTION IN THE TROPICS
- from PART III - INFECTIONS IN SELECTED ECOSYSTEMS
- Edited by John C. Hall, University of Missouri, Kansas City
- Brian J. Hall
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- Book:
- Skin Infections
- Published online:
- 08 January 2010
- Print publication:
- 06 April 2009, pp 150-166
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
Infections diseases in the tropics, such as leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), malaria, and Chagas' disease, which generate a devastating impact on humanity, are frequently refered to as neglected diseases, and affect mainly poor people.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are around 530 million people – or almost one-tenth of the world population – suffering from some of these so-called neglected diseases. The number of people at risk for infection, however, is much greater. 40% of the world's population is at risk of acquiring malaria; 25% of the Latin American population is in danger of acquiring Chagas' disease; 55 million Africans are exposed to sleeping sickness, and leishmaniasis threatens another 350 million people around the world.
Affecting the skin, they are called dermatoses of the tropical and substropical area, dermatoses of the poor (a term used by James Marshall), dermatoses of the developing and underdeveloped countries; and also dermatoses of malnutrition, illiteracy, sun radiation, humidity, and insect bites.
Tropical dermatosis is a difficult term to define, according to Canizares. Simmons stated that a tropical disease is one that “by virtue of its etiology, occurs, either exclusively or predominantly, in a tropical or substropical region, where though not strictly endemic, it is either autochthonous or in residence, since it has been repulsed from other areas by hygienic measures”.
The factors that most influence the development of tropical dermatoses are climatic, ecological, human, cultural, and socio-economic factors.