What is the medical term for an infection or disease caused by a fungus?

The medical term for an infection or disease caused by a fungus is mycosis. This term specifically refers to any condition resulting from a fungal infection, which can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, nails, and lungs, among others. Mycosis encompasses a range of fungal diseases, from superficial infections like athlete's foot to more systemic conditions that can pose significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Understanding this terminology is important for distinguishing fungal infections from those caused by bacteria, which are referred to as bacterial infections, or conditions related to inflammatory processes of the skin, such as dermatitis. Fungal allergies, on the other hand, refer to hypersensitivity reactions to fungal antigens but do not describe an actual fungal infection. Therefore, mycosis is the precise term used in medical contexts to name infections directly attributable to fungal organisms.