Types of Fungal Diseases

For Everyone

What to know

  • There are millions of fungal species, but only a few hundred can make people sick.
  • Fungal infections range from mild to life-threatening.
  • People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for most fungal infections.
  • Select from the list below to learn about these fungal diseases.
Illustrations of types of infectious fungi

Fungal diseases

Patient with lung infection in hospital and a healthcare provider giving medicine.
Aspergillosis
The fungus Aspergillus affects lungs in people with weak immunity. Antifungal resistance is growing.
man coughing with mountains, trees, and a river in the background
Blastomycosis
Blastomycosis is a lung infection caused by a fungus that lives in soil in parts of the U.S.
Three panel image of a microscope with a petri dish showing C. auris fungi in a petri dish; the second panel is a disinfectant spray bottle, the last image is of a patients hooked to a central line and IV with a fever.
Candida auris
The emerging fungus, C. auris can cause severe multidrug-resistant illness in hospitalized patients.
illustration of intestines with candida inside
Candidiasis
Candidiasis occurs when Candida, a yeast that lives in parts of the body, grows out of control.
An illustration of a foot showing chromoblastomycosis
Chromoblastomycosis Basics
Learn symptoms, risks, diagnosis, and treatment for chromoblastomycosis skin infection.
graphic of lung infection with red AIDS ribbon next to it
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcosis usually affects the lungs or brain. People who have HIV/AIDS are at higher risk.
Drawing of an eye that is red, watery, and experiencing a fungal infection.
Fungal Eye Infections Basics
Eye infections caused by fungi are extremely rare, but they can be very serious.
woman coughing outside
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasma, a fungus in soil, bird, and bat droppings in areas in the U.S., causes lung infections.
Women coughing with a thermometer indicating a fever
Mucormycosis Basics
Mucormycosis mainly affects the lungs in people with weak immune systems.  
A man walking with crutches- zoom in shows mycetoma on the foot.
Mycetoma Basics
Mycetoma is a disease caused by certain types of bacteria and fungi found in soil and water.
A man and woman digging and doing farm work with dust from the soil in the air
Paracoccidioidomycosis Basics
Paracoccidioidomycosis is caused by a fungus in Latin America. Many cases are in outdoor workers.
HIV ribbon and prescription bottle
Pneumocystis Pneumonia Basics
Pneumocystis pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects people with weakened immune systems.
illustration of red ring-shaped rash on a hand.
Ringworm Basics
Ringworm and nail infections are common fungal infections. Ringworm causes a ring-shaped rash.
An illustration of a cat, hay, plants and roses to show the transmission of sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis Basics
Sporotrichosis typically causes severe skin infections but can affect other parts of the body.
Global burden of talaromycosis
Talaromycosis (Penicilliosis) Basics
In Southeast Asia the fungal infection, Talaromycosis can affect people with weak immune systems.
A woman checking her temperature while standing outdoors in a desert
Valley Fever
Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is a lung infection from a fungus in soil in parts of the U.S.
Woman breathing in spores.
Fungal Community-Acquired Pneumonias
In the U.S., three types of fungi commonly infect the lungs and can cause pneumonia.
Men and women working in a field.
Fungal Neglected Tropical Diseases
Chromoblastomycosis, mycetoma, paracoccidioidomycosis and sporotrichosis are fungal NTDs.
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Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: October 1, 2026

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: February 20, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.