SPOROTRICHOSIS

General Information

DEFINITION--An infectious fungal disease that causes ulcers and abscesses of the skin, lymph nodes and lymph channels. Farm laborers and gardeners, especially those handling rosebushes, sphagnum moss or barberry bushes, are most often infected. Sporotrichosis is not contagious from person to person.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Skin; lymph system; lungs; joints; bones (rare).

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--Adults of both sexes, but more common in men.

> Usually no other symptoms--unlike other fungal diseases, which cause fever, chills, a general ill feeling and appetite loss.

CAUSES--Infection by a fungus, Sporothrix schenckii, that lives in soil, sphagnum moss, weeds and decaying organic vegetation.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Medical history of sarcoidosis or tuberculosis.
• Occupations that involve work with plants and soil, such as farming, nursery work and horticulture.

HOW TO PREVENT--Wear gloves when working with soil.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Laboratory culture of pus from the lesions. No skin test is available to diagnose sporotrichosis. Additional tests may be done to rule out other disorders such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, bacterial osteomyelitis and neoplasia.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Self-care after diagnosis.
• Doctor's treatment.
• May be treated at home with medication.
• Hospitalization, if complications occur. Surgery may be recommended for patient with bone and joint disease or pulmonary lesions.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS--Spread of the fungi throughout the body, causing widespread, life-threatening infection.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--With treatment, usually curable within 1 to 2 months after lesions heal--but recovery may require 6 or 7 months.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

• Because sporotrichosis is not contagious, the patient does not need to be isolated.
• Cover lesions with loose-fitting bandages to prevent secondary infection with bacteria.

MEDICATION--Your doctor may prescribe:

• Saturated solution of potassium iodide. Dilute this in water, fruit juice or other beverages and take 3 times a day after meals. Drink this with a straw to prevent discoloration of the teeth.
• Antifungal medicine, such as amphotericin B. This medication is potent and may cause severe adverse reactions. It is reserved for serious cases. Hospitalization is necessary so the drug can be administered intravenously.

ACTIVITY--No restrictions unless you develop signs of widespread infection.

DIET--No special diet.

Call Your Doctor If

• You have symptoms of sporotrichosis.
• The following occurs during treatment: Unexplained weight loss. Fever of 101F (38.3C) orally.
• New, unexplained symptoms develop. Antifungal drugs used in treatment may produce side effects, including skin rash, tongue and mouth irritation and cough.