Final answer:
Fungal infections are categorized into cutaneous, subcutaneous, and systemic mycoses, affecting various parts of the body including the skin, deeper tissue, and internal organs; prevention and treatment may include hygiene practices and antifungal medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Fungal Infections:
Fungal infections, or mycoses, fall into three main categories: cutaneous mycoses, subcutaneous mycoses, and systemic mycoses. Cutaneous mycoses affect the skin, hair, and nails; common examples include athlete's foot and ringworm. Subcutaneous mycoses go deeper, affecting tissue beneath the skin, such as sporotrichosis, which gardeners often contract from rose thorns.
Lastly, systemic mycoses spread throughout the body, often entering through the lungs, as seen with illnesses like coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) and histoplasmosis, which can have symptoms akin to tuberculosis. Effective treatment of these infections may require antifungal medication, which can have significant side effects. Mycotic infections can also manifest in different forms such as poisonings from toxic mushrooms, parasitic infections like candidiasis, and allergies triggered by molds.