Antifungals

Treatments for Fungal Infections at Washington Township Medical Foundation

As suggested by the name, antifungals are medications used to treat infections caused by fungi. Your doctor may prescribe you a pharmaceutical fungistatic or fungicide in order to treat a variety of issues and conditions such as those listed below. Other medications in this class can be used to prevent mycoses. These medications come in various forms such as creams, shampoos, vaginal tablets or pessaries, oral medicines, injections, solutions, and sprays. The medication may used for a period of a few days up to multiple weeks or months, depending on the type of fungal infection, its severity, and any complicating factors.

Some of the various conditions that can be treated by antifungal medications include:

• Ringworm
• Fungal nail infections
• Thrush, which normally infects the vagina or mouth
• Athlete’s foot / tinea pedis
• Candidiasis
• Severe systemic infections including cryptococcal meningitis

Antifungals typically work by impacting the cell wall of the fungus, which then causes the fungus to die at a cellular level. Topical antifungals and oral antifungals are usually quite safe for use. Antifungal injections are typically used only for people who are very sick in the hospital. Learn more about antifungals by asking your doctor in Fremont at Washington Township Medical Foundation.