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Fungal Infection

A fungal infection is an infection caused by a fungus. Fungal infections may affect the skin (for example, athlete's foot or jock itch), nails (for example, fungal nail infections), or hair (for example, ringworm of the scalp and beard).

Fungal infections are usually treated by putting medicine directly on the skin, nail, or hair (topical medicines). For severe cases, oral medicines (pills) are used.

Fungi that cause problems for people include yeasts and molds and other types of fungi.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Messenger, MD
Last Revised March 1, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: March 01, 2011
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