Tropical Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are more common and diverse in the tropics but are also increasingly seen in returning travelers and migrants as international travel becomes easier. They are conventionally classified into superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, and systemic mycoses. This article provides an overview of superficial, cutaneous, and subcutaneous mycoses that are more prevalent and/or geographically restricted to the tropics and briefly discusses fungal infections in returning travelers. Systematic data on such infections as travel-associated diseases are currently lacking, and enhanced surveillance for fungal infections may lead to early diagnosis and an understanding of the epidemiology of the fungal infections among travelers.