Chromomycosis- Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies

What is Chromomycosis?

Chromomycosis (chro-mo-my-co-sis) is a localized chronic fungal skin infection caused by the dark-colored fungi cladophialophora, fonsecaea, phialophora, rhinocladiella usually found in soil and in decaying wood and vegetation, affecting the foot or leg, and rarely hands, arms and the buttocks. It was first described by Max Rudolph in 1914. Chromomycosis is most commonly seen in men at the age of 30 to 50 years.

Chromomycosis is called by other names as chromoblastomycosis, dermatitis verrucosa, mossy foot disease.

Causes of Chromomycosis

• Traumatic inoculation of saprophytic soil fungi
• Bottles fungi
• Fungi implanted under the skin, often by thorns or splinters
• Certain fungal genera
• Fungi sticks
• Weakened immune system

What are the symptoms of Chromomycosis?

• Swelling of affected area
• Development of small, itchy, enlarging patches
• Hard, dull red or grayish, tumourus cauliflower-shaped nodules on affected area

Chromomycosis Treatment

• Adjunctive Therapy - application of heat using pocket warmers on affected area
• Systemic antifungal therapy such as amphotericin B
• Oral Antifungal Agents such as terbinafine, itraconazole, or ketoconazole continued for at least 1 year
• Surgical method such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen