BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSporotrichosisSporotrichosis is a long-term (chronic) skin infection that is caused by a fungus called Sporothrix schenckii.ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Sporothrix schenckii is found in plants. Infection commonly occurs when the skin is broken while handling plant material 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. Symptoms 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.UlcerErosion is a breakdown of the outer layers of the skin, usually because of a: CutScrapeInflammationImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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. Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The examination will show the typical sores caused by the fungus. Sometimes, a small sample of affected tissue is removed, examined under a microscope, and tested in a lab to identify the fungus. Treatment The skin infection is often treated with an antifungal medicine called itraconazole. It is taken by mouth and continued for 2 to 4 weeks after the skin sores have cleared. You may have to take the medicine for 3 to 6 months. A medicine called terbinafine may be used instead of itraconazole.Infections that have spread or affect the entire body are often treated with amphotericin B, or sometimes itraconazole. Therapy for systemic disease can last up to 12 months. Outlook (Prognosis) With treatment, full recovery is likely. Disseminated sporotrichosis is more difficult to treat and requires several months of therapy. Disseminated sporotrichosis can be life threatening for people with a weakened immune system. Possible Complications People with a healthy immune system may have:Discomfort Secondary skin infections (such as staph or strep)People with a weakened immune system may develop:Weakened immune systemImmunodeficiency disorders occur when the body's immune response is reduced or absent.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Arthritis Bone infection Complications from medicines -- amphotericin B can have serious side effects, including kidney damage Lung and breathing problems (such as pneumonia) PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brain infection (meningitis) MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Widespread (disseminated) disease When to Contact a Medical Professional Make an appointment with your provider if you develop persistent skin lumps or skin ulcers that do not go away. Tell your provider if you know that you were exposed to plants from gardening.Skin lumpsSkin lumps are any abnormal bumps or swellings on or under the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention People with a weakened immune system should try to reduce risk for skin injury. Wearing thick gloves while gardening can help.Open ReferencesReferencesKauffman CA, Galgiani JN, Thompson GR. Endemic mycoses. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 316.Rex JH, Okhuysen PC. Sporothrix schenckii. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 259.AllVideoImagesTogSporotrichosis on the hand and arm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the hand and armillustrationSporotrichosis on the arm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the armillustrationSporotrichosis on the forearm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the forearmillustrationFungus - illustration Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can live on the skin. They can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers.FungusillustrationSporotrichosis on the hand and arm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the hand and armillustrationSporotrichosis on the arm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the armillustrationSporotrichosis on the forearm - illustration Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that frequently occurs following a minor injury while gardening or farming. Spores, which live in vegetation, enter the skin and begin to grow. The fungus follows the lymph channels up the extremity. Granulomatous lesions develop along the lymph channel, ulcerate, and drain. If left untreated, this condition can persist for years.Sporotrichosis on the forearmillustrationFungus - illustration Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can live on the skin. They can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers.FungusillustrationRelated Information Chronic(Special Topic)Systemic(Special Topic)Erosion(Symptoms)Breathing difficulties - first aid(Injury)Osteomyelitis(Condition)Arthritis(Condition)Meningitis(Condition)Immunodeficiency disorders(Condition)Community-acquired pneumonia in adults(Condition)Osteoarthritis - InDepth(In-Depth)Pneumonia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 3/10/2022 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
SporotrichosisSporotrichosis is a long-term (chronic) skin infection that is caused by a fungus called Sporothrix schenckii.ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Sporothrix schenckii is found in plants. Infection commonly occurs when the skin is broken while handling plant material 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. Symptoms 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.UlcerErosion is a breakdown of the outer layers of the skin, usually because of a: CutScrapeInflammationImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article 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. Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The examination will show the typical sores caused by the fungus. Sometimes, a small sample of affected tissue is removed, examined under a microscope, and tested in a lab to identify the fungus. Treatment The skin infection is often treated with an antifungal medicine called itraconazole. It is taken by mouth and continued for 2 to 4 weeks after the skin sores have cleared. You may have to take the medicine for 3 to 6 months. A medicine called terbinafine may be used instead of itraconazole.Infections that have spread or affect the entire body are often treated with amphotericin B, or sometimes itraconazole. Therapy for systemic disease can last up to 12 months. Outlook (Prognosis) With treatment, full recovery is likely. Disseminated sporotrichosis is more difficult to treat and requires several months of therapy. Disseminated sporotrichosis can be life threatening for people with a weakened immune system. Possible Complications People with a healthy immune system may have:Discomfort Secondary skin infections (such as staph or strep)People with a weakened immune system may develop:Weakened immune systemImmunodeficiency disorders occur when the body's immune response is reduced or absent.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Arthritis Bone infection Complications from medicines -- amphotericin B can have serious side effects, including kidney damage Lung and breathing problems (such as pneumonia) PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brain infection (meningitis) MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Widespread (disseminated) disease When to Contact a Medical Professional Make an appointment with your provider if you develop persistent skin lumps or skin ulcers that do not go away. Tell your provider if you know that you were exposed to plants from gardening.Skin lumpsSkin lumps are any abnormal bumps or swellings on or under the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention People with a weakened immune system should try to reduce risk for skin injury. Wearing thick gloves while gardening can help.Open ReferencesReferencesKauffman CA, Galgiani JN, Thompson GR. Endemic mycoses. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 316.Rex JH, Okhuysen PC. Sporothrix schenckii. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 259.