Symptoms:

Symptoms include a small, painless, red lump that develops at the site of infection and eventually turns into an ulcer. The lump may develop up to 3 months after an injury.

Sores are often on the hands and forearm, because these areas are common injury sites.

The fungus follows lymphatic channels in the body. Small ulcers appear in lines on the skin as the infection goes up an arm or leg. These sores do not heal unless they are treated and may remain for years. The nodules may drain small amounts of pus from time to time.

Body-wide (systemic) sporotrichosis can cause lung and breathing problems, bone infection, arthritis, and infection of the nervous system.

Signs and tests:

A physical examination reveals the typical sores. In some cases, a small sample of affected tissue is removed, examined under a microscope and cultured to identify the fungus.