Knowledge of common fungal infections is low among U.S. adults

A majority of people are unaware of common fungal diseases, according to a new CDC report, even though these diseases result in more than $7 billion in health costs annually. Experts analyzed survey responses from more than 3,600 people from across the U.S., and found that about a third of people had never heard of any of the diseases listed in the survey, including candidiasis (which can be a vaginal yeast infection or oral thrush) and aspergillosis (which can cause a clump of mold in the lungs). The fungal infection known as blastomycosis — which is often asymptomatic and caused by inhaling fungal spores — was the least well-known among the respondents, especially those in the Northeastern U.S., even though the disease is endemic to the eastern part of the country. Women were more likely to be aware of fungal infections — and more than three times as likely to know of candidiasis — than men.