In these patients, the fungi may travel through the body to the bones, kidneys, and central nervous system. Doctors may prescribe antifungal creams or ointments to treat fungal diseases of the skin. One of the main drugs used to treat systemic fungal diseases is amphotericin B. Fungal diseases are often cured with medication. In patients without natural resistance, however, these disorders often recur. Many fungal diseases of people also occur in animals, particularly mammals.
Ringworm is the most common fungal disease that affects animals.
Other fungal diseases that affect animals include histoplasmosis and monoliasis in mammals and aspergillosis in birds. Fungi that cause diseases in plants include smuts, rusts, and mildews. These fungi affect many kinds of plants and can seriously damage crops. For example, black stem rust harms wheat, covered smut attacks barley, and powdery mildew damages a wide variety of plants, such as peas and grapes. Fungal diseases that attack trees include Dutch elm disease and chestnut blight.