Articles
Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infections
Understanding infection vs. disease
Content
Infectious agents: From bacteria to worms
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
Protozoans
Helminths
Understanding infection versus disease
Warding off germs and infection
When to seek medical care
Content
Infectious agents: From bacteria to worms
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
Protozoans
Helminths
Understanding infection versus disease
Warding off germs and infection
When to seek medical care
Fungi
There are many types of fungi. People eat some of them. Mushrooms are fungi. So are the molds that form the blue or green veins in some types of cheese. And yeast is a type of fungus needed to make most breads.
Other fungi can cause illness. One example is the yeast candida. Candida can cause an infection of the mouth and throat called thrush. Thrush happens in infants and in people taking antibiotics or who have weakened immune systems. Fungi also cause skin conditions such as athlete's foot and ringworm.
