Sporotrichosis (patient information)
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Sporotrichosis |
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Sporotrichosis On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Sporotrichosis is a long-term (chronic) skin infection that is caused by a fungus called ‘’Sporothrix schenckii‘’
What are the symptoms of Sporotrichosis?
Symptoms include a small, painless, red lump that develops at the site of infection. As time passes, this lump will turn into an ulcer (sore). The lump may develop up to 3 months after an injury.
Most sores are on the hands and forearms because these areas are commonly injured when handling plants.
The fungus follows the channels in your body's lymph system. Small ulcers appear as lines on the skin as the infection moves up an arm or leg. These sores do not heal unless they are treated, and they may last for years. The sores may sometimes drain small amounts of pus.
Body-wide (systemic) sporotrichosis can cause lung and breathing problems, bone infection, arthritis, and infection of the nervous system.
What causes Sporotrichosis?
Sporothrix schenckii is found in plants. Infection commonly occurs when the skin is broken while handling plant materials such as rosebushes, briars, or dirt that contains a lot of mulch.
Sporotrichosis can be a job-related disease for people who work with plants, such as farmers, horticulturists, rose gardeners, and plant nursery workers. Widespread (disseminated) sporotrichosis can develop in people with a weakened immune system when they inhale dust filled with spores of the fungus.
Who is at highest risk?
Risk factors for Sporotrichosis include:
- Living near an area with a lot of ticks
- Owning a pet that may bring a tick home
- Walking or playing in high grasses
Diagnosis
The doctor will do a physical exam and check your vital signs, including:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Temperature
Other tests include:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Granulocyte stain
- Fluorescent antibody test
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you become sick after a recent tick bite or if you've been in areas where ticks are common. Be sure to tell your doctor about the tick exposure.
Treatment options
Antibiotics (tetracycline or doxycycline) are used to treat the disease. Young children should not take tetracycline by mouth until after all their permanent teeth have grown in, because it can permanently discolor growing teeth. Doxycycline used for 2 weeks or less typically does not cause discoloration of a child's permanent teeth.
Where to find medical care for Sporotrichosis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Sporotrichosis
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Sporotrichosis is rarely deadly. With antibiotics, patients usually improve within 24 - 48 hours. Recovery takes 3 weeks.
Possible complications
- Coma
- Death (rare)
- Kidney damage
- Lung damage
- Other organ damage
- Seizure
Prevention of Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis is spread by tick bites. Preventing tick bites will prevent this, and other, tick-borne diseases. Common measures to prevent tick bites include:
- Avoiding dense brush and long grasses when hiking
- Checking yourself for ticks and removing any that you find after being outside
- Not standing under trees or bushes
- Using insect repellent
- Wearing clothing to cover skin
Studies suggest that a tick must be attached to your body for at least 24 hours in order to cause disease, so early removal will prevent infection. If you are bitten by a tick, write down the date and time the bite happened, and bring this information, along with the tick (if possible), to your doctor if you become sick.