NE HELATH BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 28
Pune-based noted dermatologist Dr. Hemant Talanikar recently said that fungal infection cases have increased in the country, and the time required to treat the infections has also doubled in the last 3-4 years.
Addressing a webinar on “Demystify Facts on Fungal Infections of Skin” organised by drug major Cadila Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest privately-held pharmaceutical companies in India, Dr. Talanikar, who has been practicing for the last 24 years, said fungal infections of the skin are a common problem but were earlier seen mostly either in summer due to excessive sweating, or in the rainy season due to wet clothes.
“For the last 3-4 years, we are seeing a trend of fungal infections even in winters. We can call it an epidemic throughout the country,” he said, attributing the rise to humidity, protein malnutrition, low socioeconomic condition, and poor personal hygiene as some of the reasons for the rise.
Dr. Talanikar also noted that earlier fungal infections were treated completely in one or one-and-a-half months, but the time needed to treat the infection completely has gone up to 3-4 months now as fungi have developed resistance, adding incidence of chronic fungal infections has also increased at an alarming rate in recent years.
He also answered the participants’ questions at the end of the enlightening virtual session.
