Personally, I find that infections that occur on the skin are the worst type of infections. There are many deadly infections that occur inside the body and these are serious, however, infections that occur on the skin are visible and can be very terrifying to see on YOUR skin. Skin infections are not rare, but there is a group of fungi that cause an unusual skin infection that progresses slowly. This infection is called Eumycetoma.
General Description:
Eumycetoma is a chronic and granulomatous infection that is common on the outer layer and deeper layers of the skin. It is actually caused by both bacteria and fungi, but Eumycetoma is the name for the infection when caused by fungi. Eumycetoma is also sometimes referred to as "Madura Foot" because this condition most commonly affects the foot and because it was first reported in a small town in India named Madura. The people who get this infection the most are field laborers who work in developing countries.
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| Foot infected with Eumycetoma. |
Locations:
This infection is most prevalent in developing countries that are in tropical and subtropical regions. Some of these regions include India, Africa, Central and South America, and some parts of the Middle East. There has also been a few cases in the United States and is becoming more common in Mexico.
Infection Method:
The fungi are introduced by lesions to the skin caused by a sharp object while working outside. This is why this infection is most common among people working in the fields. Once the spores are inside the skin, they begin to spread slowly, causing inflammation. Most of the cases begin in the feet and spread up the leg. In some occasions, the infection spreads into interior organs like muscles and tendons. This infection is not contagious among people. The infection area can appear different colors (black and red to name a few) and this depends on the species of fungi that caused the infection.
Symptoms:
The inflammation that occurs with this disease is painless, which is a reason most people do not get medical treatment until it is too late. In the late stage, the patient may have to get a leg amputated.
Treatment:
In the early stages of the infection, no symptoms show so it is difficult to diagnose it early. Ultrasonography and MRI can be used see how much of the skin or region has been affected. Surgery, medication, and a combination of both can be used to treat this infection. However, the time it takes to cure the infection can be long and people sometimes drop the treatments. A long follow-up period is needed to make sure the infection does not return.
Final Thoughts:
This infection can be quite terrible to live with. It is stated that most people who get this infection are people who work in the fields. This makes sense since working will, without a doubt, get you some sort of cut or lesion. The most common location to contract the infection is in the leg, and this is because people sometimes work barefoot.
I believe this infection should not be looked the other way. The slow progressing infection will not show symptoms for quite some time and the frightening part is that the inflammation is painless. I understand why most people would just ignore it. If you or a loved one is suspected of having this infection, it is better to get medical help quickly, before it gets dangerous.
If you are traveling to Mexico, India, or any of the locations mentioned above, be cautious of vegetation and make sure to not get many lesions. I hope you all enjoyed learning about this interesting but terrifying fungal infection. Leave a comment about what you think of Eumycetoma or recommend an infection to look into!
References:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/97da/ccb12f4029002df671c2b782637e715076e9.pdf
http://atm.eisai.co.jp/english/ntd/mycetoma.html
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1090738-overview#showall
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1090738-treatment#showall
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