Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that causes red, tender nodules on the fingers, wrists, and arms. The lymph nodes may also become infected.

What is going on in the body?

A person may get sporotrichosis when exposed to soil, or when a thorn or splinter punctures the skin. The infection is caused by a fungus in the soil. Sometimes, breathing in the fungus can create an infection throughout the body.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

Usually, infection from the fungus causing sporotrichosis comes about through a skin puncture with a contaminated thorn or sticker. Gardeners, farmers, and others working in brush, with rose bushes, barberry bushes, or certain types of moss are more at risk for this infection.