Library · Microorganism
Fungus
Make it clearer
A fungus is a primitive organism, and the most recognizable examples are mushrooms, mold and mildew. Fungi live in the air, in the soil, on plants and in water, and some live inside the human body too. Only about half of all types of fungi are harmful, so living alongside them does not mean you are sick.
Some reproduce by releasing tiny spores that float in the air, like dust you cannot see. A person can breathe them in or they can land on the body, and that is why fungal infections, called mycoses, often start in the lungs or on the skin: those are the first two ways in.
In brief
A fungus is a primitive organism; mushrooms, mold and mildew are examples. Fungi live in the air, in the soil, on plants and in water, and some live in the human body.
Only about half of all types of fungi are harmful.
Some fungi reproduce through tiny spores that travel in the air: a person can breathe them in or they can land on the body, and that is why fungal infections often start in the lungs or on the skin.
Sources (1)
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineFungal Infections
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated