OVERVIEW
A fungus is a type of germ that lives in the air, soil and plants, and even on our own bodies. There are more than a million different kinds of fungi. Most are harmless, but a few types of fungi can cause infections. There are two main types of fungal infections:
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Superficial (affecting parts of the outer body) affects the skin, genital area, and nails. Superficial infections include athlete foot, vaginal yeast infections, and ringworm, which is not a worm but a fungus that can cause a circular rash on the skin. While not serious, superficial fungal infections can cause itchy, scaly rashes and other uncomfortable conditions.
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Systemic (affecting systems inside the body) affects the lungs, blood, and other systems in the body. These infections can be serious
INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULT:
The results will either show that there is a fungus in the skin sample or not. If the tests do not show any fungus, the doctor may perform further tests to find out what is causing the symptoms.
WHY GET TESTED?
The KOH smear test looks for different fungal infections. These infections may include:
- Ringworm
- Athlete’s foot
- Oral or vaginal candida
