Types of Fungal Diseases| Fungal Diseases | CDC

Types of Fungal Diseases| Fungal Diseases | CDC



Fungi are everywhere. There are approximately 1.5 million different species of fungi on Earth, but only about 300 of those are known to make people sick.1,2 Fungal diseases are often caused by fungi that are common in the environment. Fungi live outdoors in soil and on plants and trees as well as on many indoor surfaces and on human skin. Most fungi are not dangerous, but some types can be harmful to health.

Blastomycosis

Caused by the fungus Blastomyces, which lives in moist soil in parts of the United States and Canada.

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)

Caused by Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America.

C. gattii infection

Caused by the fungus Cryptococcus gattii, which lives in soil in tropical and sub-tropical areas, the United States Pacific Northwest, and British Columbia.

Histoplasmosis

Caused by the fungus Histoplasma, which lives in the environment, often in association with large amounts of bird or bat droppings.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)

Caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii and mainly affects people with weakened immune systems.

Sporotrichosis

Caused by the fungus Sporothrix, which lives throughout the world in soil and on plants.