Anti-fungals are a class of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of fungal infections. They fall into four broad groups:
- The polyenes, such as Amphotericin B, which work by increasing the leakage of certain vital chemicals like potassium and sodium from fungal cells but not animals cells.
- The azoles like itraconazole, which inhibit an enzyme critical to fungal cell membranes
- The allylamines, which inhibit a different but similarly important enzyme
- The echinocadines, which inhibit the growth of fungal cell walls and are particularly useful in immunocompromised patients
Anti-fungals, unlike antibiotics, have severe side effects and must be used judiciously. Among the most common effects are liver toxicity, allergic reactions and drug interactions.