Ring worm
| Dermatophytosis | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Ringworm, tinea |
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| Ringworm on a human leg | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Red, itchy, scaly, circular skin rash |
| Causes | Fungal infection |
| Risk factors | Using public showers, contact sports, excessive sweating, contact with animals, obesity, poor immune function |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, microbial culture, microscopic examination |
| Similar conditions | Dermatitis, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea, tinea versicolor |
| Prevention | Keep the skin dry, no walking barefoot in public, not sharing personal items |
| Treatment | Antifungal creams (clotrimazole, miconazole) |
| Frequency | 20% of the population |
| Classification |
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| External resources |
Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple areas can be affected at a given time.
About 40 types of fungi can cause ringworm. They are typically of the Trichophyton, Microsporum, or Epidermophyton type. Risk factors include using public showers, contact sports such as wrestling, excessive sweating, contact with animals, obesity, and poor immune function. Ringworm can spread from other animals or between people. Diagnosis is often based on the appearance and symptoms. It may be confirmed by either culturing or looking at a skin scraping under a microscope.
Prevention is by keeping the skin dry, not walking barefoot in public, and not sharing personal items. Treatment is typically with antifungal creams such as clotrimazole or miconazole. If the scalp is involved, antifungals by mouth such as fluconazole may be needed.
Up to 20% of the population may be infected by ringworm at any given time. Infections of the groin are more common in males, while infections of the scalp and body occur equally in both sexes. Infections of the scalp are most common in children while infections of the groin are most common in the elderly. Description of ringworm date back to ancient history.
Infections on the body may give rise to typical enlarging raised red rings of ringworm. Infection on the skin of the feet may cause athlete's foot and in the groin, jock itch. Involvement of the nails is termed onychomycosis, and they may thicken, discolour, and finally crumble and fall off. They are common in most adult people, with up to 20% of the population having one of these infections at any given moment.
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Wikipedia