The simmering rise in incidence, severity, and atypical clinical presentations of subcutaneous and deep fungal infections in India: Will complacence cost us this battle of David versus Goliath?

Fungal infections have often been overlooked as a public health issue by us by labeling them as rare or easily treatable. In contrast, bacterial infections have been extensively researched, with multiple strategies for detection, management, and prevention in place. While fungal infections were once considered less prevalent than other forms of infections, the landscape has changed significantly in recent years. A global dermatophytosis epidemic is well-documented, but equally concerning is the subtle yet definite increase in subcutaneous and deep/systemic fungal infections such as sporotrichosis, chromoblastomycosis, eumycetoma, pheohyphomycosis, invasive candidiasis, histoplasmosis, zygomycosis, and cryptococcosis. It is imperative that we recognize and address this potential public health threat, giving subcutaneous/deep fungal infections the attention they deserve, and work toward implementing measures for improved diagnosis, management, and control.