2008+1-Skin+infections+(bacterial,+fungal,+viral)

=**Skin infections (bacterial, fungal, viral)**= By, Sheldon and Evan

**Fungi Skin Infection:** A fungi skin infection is an infection on your skin caused by a fungus. //Athletes Foot//- Cause foot to be scaly and soggy in areas and possibly cause itching. //Ringworm//- Causes red or white patches to appear on the skin and is caught from animals. //Nail Infection//-Causes nails to be malformed, thickened, and crumbly. Most fungi infections can be treated from cream, lotions, or medicative powder. Prevention- Dry after bathing, wear loose fitting clothes and underwear, avoid sharing towels and brushes, and change socks daily. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, the principle site of attack in the skin is the epidermis. These may cause localized or systemic manifestations that varies from erythematous lesions, vesiculation, ulceration, scarring or severe constitutional symptoms. //Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-// Causes focal areas of epithelial hyperplasia, referred to as warts. Indeed, selected types of HPV are capable of inducing malignant transformation of the epithelium, including that of the cervix. Commonly occurring warts include common warts, plantar warts, juvenile warts and condylomata. //Cold Sores//- Small blisters around the mouth, caused by the herpes simplex virus, appear. The most common strain of the virus is herpes simplex virus 1 //Shingles//-A common viral infection of the nerves, which results in a painful rash of small blisters on an area of skin anywhere on the body. Even after the rash is gone, the pain can continue for months, even years. Most of the viral infections cannot be treated easily and some cannot even be treated. Prevention- Get bed rest and stay healthy.
 * Viral Skin Infections:**

A bacterial s kin infections is often the result of a break in the integrity of the skin. //Erythrasma//- A superficial skin infection caused by corynebacteria that commonly occurs in intertriginous spaces. While moderate itching and discomfort may be noted, the patient generally presents with only skin-color changes in the infected area. The infected skin is often reddish-brown, may be slightly raised from the surrounding skin and may show the appearance of central clearing. The lesions are largely confluent but may have poorly defined borders. //Impetigo//- A common infection in children that may also occur in adults. It is generally caused by either //Staphylococcus aureus// or streptococci. Patients report skin lesions, often with associated adenopathy, but have minimal systemic signs and symptoms. Impetigo may present in two forms: small vesicles with a honey-colored crust or purulent-appearing bullae. Bullous impetigo is less common than small-vesicle impetigo. S. aureus is the organism that commonly causes bullous impetigo. //S. aureus// is also the most frequently found organism in small-vesicle impetigo, although group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is also a common pathogen in patients over the age of two. //Ecthyma-// Occurs in debilitated persons, such as patients with poorly controlled diabetes, and is generally caused by the same organisms that cause impetigo. The patient presents with moderately painful lesions with adherent crusts, generally on the legs; the lesions may subsequently become purulent, poorly healing ulcers. These lesions tend to be deeper seated than those of impetigo. Most bacterial infections can be treated easily with antibiotics.
 * Bacterial Skin Infections:**

**Sources:** [|http://www.aafp.org/afp/980515ap/odell.html  [|http://www.drmhijazy.com/english/chapters/chapter11.htm  http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adultderm/cold.cfm hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/fungal_**skin**_**infections**.html [|http://google.images.com