FUNGAL INFECTIONS OF HEAD AND NECK

Mycosis is defined as an infection caused by fungi and is categorized into groups based on portal of entry and the major site of infection [1]. Mycosis may be grouped as superficial, subcutaneous and systemic [3]. The Superficial infections are worldwide in their distribution which include Dermatophytosis and Superficial Candidiasis. The subcutaneous mycosis include Sporotrichosis, Mycetoma, Chromoblastomycosis, Subcutaneous Zygomycosis and Lobomycosis. Systemic mycosis include Opportunistic infections - Systemic Candidiasis, Aspergillosis, Zygomycosis, Fusariosis, Cryptococcosis and Endemic infections – Histoplasmosis, African histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis. Diagnosing fungal infections remains a problem in the management of fungal diseases, particularly in the immunocompromised host. Medication becomes the mainstay of antifungal therapy when host defense is penetrated, again most commonly in the immunocompromised individual. This dissertation shall highlight the fungal infections of head and neck with recent advances in diagnosis and management by antifungal therapy.