Fungus In The Groin In Men And Women

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Fungus in the groin in men and women

The fungus in the groin in men and women is a lesion of the epidermis by mycotic organisms, localized in the area of large folds of the skin. Synonyms for this disease are bordered eczema, epidermophytosis inguinal and epidermophytosis true.

The disease can affect both men and women, but representatives of the stronger sex get sick more often. In childhood, the disease is rarely diagnosed, the frequency of occurrence increases closer to the period of puberty. The flaky epidermophyton causes inflammation in 1.8% of cases, the culprits in the rest of the cases are trichophytons belonging to the group of dermatomycetes. The presence of a fungus in the groin makes it possible to diagnose dermatomycosis.

Content:

• Symptoms of a fungus in the groin in men and women
• Causes of the fungus in the groin in men and women
• Diagnostics of the fungus in the groin in men and women
• Treatment of a fungus in the groin in men and women
• Prevention of fungus in the groin in men and women

Symptoms of a fungus in the groin in men and women

The disease is manifested by the following clinical signs:

• Itchy pink spots appear in the groin folds. Their size does not exceed 10 mm. The spots are round, their surface is scaly. As the disease progresses, the spots increase in size and can reach 10 cm in diameter. The focus of inflammation has clear scalloped borders.
• On the periphery of the spots, the skin is hyperemic, bubbles and pustules form on it.
• Over time, the inflammation, localized in the center of the spot, disappears and clean skin remains in this place. However, the foci of epidermophytosis remain hyperemic and look like large rings as a result of the fusion of spots. The edges of such plaques are raised, often the rash extends beyond the borders of the inguinal zone.
• Itching always accompanies the fungus in the groin area. It tends to get worse while walking.

• In addition to the inguinal folds, it is possible to involve in the pathological process the intergluteal fold, the skin of the inner thighs, and the axillary regions. In women, spots can form under the mammary gland. Less commonly, the process extends to the skin of the anus, to the interdigital spaces of the legs, to the scrotum in men.

When adequate treatment is not available, the disease can last for many years. In this case, periods of exacerbation and remission of the disease alternate. During a lull, the inflammation subsides, the itching goes away, but the peeling increases, the color of the spot has a brownish tint.

It is important to distinguish the symptoms of epidermophytosis inguinal from erythrasma (in this disease, the lesions do not extend beyond the inguinal zone), from diaper rash and candidal skin folds (with these pathologies, characteristic plaque is formed and eroded zones appear), from psoriasis of large folds (while the plaques have a rich red color, skin is swollen). (read also: Psoriasis - stages, causes, symptoms)

Causes of the fungus in the groin in men and women

The cause of the development of the disease is infection with mycotic organisms.

The transmission of the fungus occurs through the contact-household way:

• Infection is possible through bedding, through the use of shared towels, washcloths.
• Wearing someone else's underwear also increases the risk of infection.
• Visiting public baths, saunas, swimming pools increases the likelihood of infection. Especially if in such places you neglect the rules of personal hygiene, walk with your bare feet on the floor.
• The risks of infection increase in the presence of provoking factors: high air temperature, high humidity, increased sweating.
• Another provoking factor can be the presence of injuries on the surface layers of the skin.
• Excess body weight and the presence of large folds significantly complicate proper hygienic care.

Diagnostics of the fungus in the groin in men and women

If symptoms of the disease occur, it is necessary to contact a mycologist or a dermatologist. To confirm or deny the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a scraping examination for the presence of pathogenic fungi in it, take the material for sowing on a nutrient medium and examine the affected areas of the body using a Wood lamp.

If necessary, the scraping is taken not only from the smooth skin of the groin folds, but also from the nails. In the presence of a fungal infection, short branching filaments of the fungal mycelium are found in the skin peels, as well as arthrospores, which line up in chains.

With the help of a Wood lamp, it is possible to distinguish a mycotic lesion from erythrasma, contact dermatitis and other diseases similar in symptomatology.

Treatment of a fungus in the groin in men and women

To get rid of the disease, local treatment is often sufficient.

For this purpose can be used:

• Antifungal drugs: Mikoseptin, Clotrimazole, Lamisil, Naftifine, Terbinafine, Oxyconazole, Ketoconazole, Bifonazole, etc. Local antimycotic therapy continues for a long period of time - up to 6 weeks. It is impractical to complete it immediately after the symptoms disappear, as this threatens the risk of a relapse of the disease.
• During an exacerbation of inflammation, lotions with 2% Rezocin solution, with 0.1% Ethacridine Lactate solution are shown. You can also use solutions of Chlorhexidine Bigluconate and Potassium Permanganate for these purposes. For severe itching, aerosols with corticosteroids and antibiotics are used.
• When the foci of inflammation are eliminated, the skin that has undergone epidermophytosis must be treated with Iodine, a solution of Salicylic acid.
• If, against the background of mycosis of the skin, the patient develops allergic rashes - mycids, then the use of antihistamines (Tavegil, Suprastin, Zirtek, Loratadin, etc.), desensitizing and sedatives is indicated.
• Short-term antibacterial courses are prescribed if a pyococcal infection joins. For this, antibiotics of a wide spectrum of action are used.
• After the inflammatory process has completely subsided, the skin must be treated with milder disinfectants and non-irritating agents, for example, with the help of Furcocin.

Most often, it is possible to eliminate the inflammatory process within a week.

However, for this, you must adhere to the following rules for applying antimycotic ointments:

• The inflamed area is thoroughly washed with soap;
• The ointment is applied to the affected areas with the capture of healthy skin;
• The frequency of application of the ointment depends on medical recommendations;
• When the effect is absent after a week, a second visit to a specialist is necessary;
• Underwear for the duration of the therapy should be chosen spacious from natural fabrics, it should be changed daily;
• In order to prevent an increase in humidity in the treated area, you should use powders or talcum powder that are capable of absorbing liquid;
• It is best to remove hair from the intimate area, if this is not possible, then they need to be treated with shampoo with an antifungal component.

When the inguinal epidermophytosis is resistant to local therapy, patients are prescribed Terbinafine internally. The course of taking the drug is 2 weeks, the dosage is 250 mg per day. Alternatively, itraconazole may be prescribed at a dosage of 200 mg per day. In this case, the duration of treatment will be one week.

When diagnosing inguinal mycosis, women need to consult a gynecologist, since there is a risk of vaginal fungal infection.

Prevention of fungus in the groin in men and women

Due to the fact that the disease is transmitted by contact and household means, it is advisable to carry out the following preventive measures:

• Disinfection of bedding and underwear must be thorough, especially after being used by third parties. It is necessary not only to machine wash, but also to iron it thoroughly.
• You should not use other people's towels, washcloths and other personal hygiene items.
• When you are in a bath or sauna, as well as in swimming pools, you should observe careful body hygiene. Additionally, you can use antiseptic aerosols to treat the most vulnerable areas.
• When visiting public places, you should wear bath slippers and avoid walking barefoot.
• It is important to fight hyperhidrosis and carefully monitor the cleanliness of the groin folds. This is especially true for overweight people.
• When the first symptoms of the disease are found, you should seek qualified help, and not engage in self-treatment.
• If there is a sick person in the family, disinfection methods should be strengthened. He needs to use exclusively his personal hygiene items, carefully process the bath after himself using hydrogen peroxide.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".