Skin Infections: Viral, Bacterial, and Fungal

This topic covers common infectious diseases of the skin, a major component of dermatology practice. Zambian university students will study viral infections like verrucae (warts caused by HPV) and molluscum contagiosum (poxvirus), bacterial infections such as impetigo (often staph or strep), and superficial fungal infections known as tinea (dermatophyte infections of the scalp, body, groin, and feet). For each, you will learn the causative agent, typical clinical presentation (e.g., honey-colored crust in impetigo, annular scaly plaques in tinea corporis), and general course. Understanding these common infections is essential for diagnosis and treatment in primary care settings. This knowledge is vital for examinations in dermatology, microbiology, and pathology and is directly applicable to managing a high-volume of outpatient presentations in clinics across Zambia.