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The Ringworm Irradiators

Ringworm is one of the most common and widespread childhood maladies. Deceptive in its naming, ringworm is no parasite but rather a fairly mild, though atrociously itchy, fungal skin infection that affects 300 million people worldwide. An infection with the contagious Tinea capitis fungus is usually summarily dismissed by means of antifungal medications, but for decades prior to the discovery of such cures in the 1950s, infections with ringworm and other species of fungus were as intractable and as challenging as their bacterial counterparts.

The mid-twentieth century, as modern an era as it seems, marked the early days of effective antimicrobial treatments, and though practical…

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 Highly Contagious, Drug-Resistant Ringworm Reported In U.S. For First Time

Various types of fungi can cause ringworm, with T. indotineae being one of them. The CDC MMWR called T. indotineae a novel dermatophyte species. In this case, novel means “new” and not a book like 50 Shades of Grey. As mentioned earlier, there’s been an epidemic of T. indotineae. The misuse and overuse of topical antifungal medications and corticosteroids have probably driven the spread of this drug-resistant not-so-fun fungus.

 Ringworm: skin fungus by any other name

Ringworm infection is not caused by a worm at all – it’s actually a skin infection caused by certain kinds of fungus called dermatophytes. The scientific name for ringworm is dermatophytosis, or dermatomycosis. Some of the more common zoonotic species of dermatophytes found in animals include Microsporum canis, Trichophyton verrucosum, T. equinum, and T. mentagrophytes. There are also some dermatophytes that are primarily transmitted from person to person that are not carried by animals. These include the fungi that cause athlete’s foot and jock itch.

 Tinea Corporis: Make the Diagnosis Before You Treat

Tinea corporis, a common fungal infection with a lifetime risk of 10-20%, is primarily caused by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Microsporum canis, often affecting children and young adults. It classically presents as an erythematous, annular, pruritic patch with central clearing and well-defined active border with leading scale. Pustules or vesicles may be present in some cases. The lesions vary in size and number, with larger lesions potentially coalescing into polycyclic patches. Risk factors include personal history of dermatophytosis, contact with affected family members, pets, crowded living quarters, recreational exposure, immunosuppression, and diabetes mellitus. It is important to always consider the differential diagnosis of annular rashes with special attention to distinguishing features.

Articles of Interest

At The Gym: MRSA And Ringworm And Boils, Oh My!

Guess what's lurking in the gym? MRSA, athlete's foot, jock itch, boils, impetigo, herpes simplex and ringworm, among other atrocities. Of course, I knew about athlete's foot, and my gym even took steps to inform members about MRSA. But, ew!

Clear Skin Is Possible : Beat Tinea Corporis

Tinea corporis, additionally acknowledged as ringworm of the body, is a fungal contamination of the pores and skin precipitated by means of dermatophytes. It can have an effect on anyone, however it is extra frequent in adolescents and athletes who share tools or come into contact with contaminated surfaces. The contamination seems to be a round or ring-shaped rash with raised edges and a clear centre. The rash can be itchy, scaly, and red, and can also unfold to different components of the body. Tinea corporis is no longer commonly serious, however it can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Treatment usually includes antifungal medications, each topical and oral, and maintaining the affected region smooth and dry.

Don't always blame the dog

While animal-to-human transmission is usually the greatest concern, human-to-animal transmission of a variety of bugs also occurs, and this can cause problems for the animals, and for people who subsequently have contact with those animals.

Five diseases you can catch from pets

Ringworm is actually a misnomer. It is not a worm at all but a microscopic fungus, closely related to the cause of athlete’s foot in people. Affected cats, dogs and other animals may show very few signs. However, in its classical form, pets with ringworm usually have circular areas of hair loss. The affected area of skin becomes scaly, flaky and itchy. It is very treatable, but can occasionally cause scarring.

How can I cure my son's ringworm?

Her six-year-old has had the fungal infection ringworm since he was three, and despite treatment it keeps coming back. Could diet have an impact? And would herbal remedies help?

How Long Is Ringworm Contagious? What You Should Know

Ringworm stops being contagious 48 hours after starting antifungal treatment. Without treatment, ringworm remains contagious as long as the rash is present, which can be three weeks or longer.

Myths & Facts About Ringworm

Ringworm, despite its misleading name, is not caused by a worm but is a common fungal infection affecting the skin, hair, and nails. It is characterized by a red, circular rash with a clear center, often leading to confusion about its nature and transmission.

Ringworm cure

In most of the cases, you wouldn’t even need to go and see a doctor. Sometimes, you can treat the Ringworm infection on your own...

Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered

Medical terms for ringworm are “tinea” and “dermatophytosis.” Tinea and dermatophytosis are synonyms for a contagious fungal infection of the skin. Other names for ringworm are based on its location on the body – for example, ringworm on the feet is commonly called athlete’s foot, and ringworm associated with the groin area is referred to as jock itch. These are characterized by a persistent itchy rash that can appear flaky and cracked.

Ringworm In Babies And Children: Treatment And Prevention

Ringworm is fairly common, so don’t worry too much about it, just get on with the treatment. The condition is usually easily treated and there are some preventative measures you can take to help ensure your child doesn’t pick it up again.

Ringworm infection takes on many forms

The medical term for ringworm depends on the location of the infection; ringworm of the beard is tinea barbae; of the body, tinea corporis; of the feet ("athlete's foot"), tinea pedis; of the groin area ("jock itch"), tinea cruris; of the scalp, tinea capitis; of the fingers or toenails, is tinea unguium.

Ringworm is a very common infection

Tinea is usually diagnosed based solely on the clinical appearance. If needed, the skin can be examined under a special blue light (called a Wood’s lamp) in a dark room; under these conditions certain strains of the fungus may fluoresce.

Ringworm Treatment

The treatment for ringworm is one of the many effective topical antifungal creams, such as miconazole (Tinactin) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin). Several of these antifungal creams are now available without a prescription. Treatment may require several weeks. Only by treating for at least one week after the resolution of symptoms (and for a total of at least 4 weeks) can one guarantee eradication. (Pets can be treated with the same medicines, but this is difficult, since they often don’t get a rash with their infections.

Ringworm, aka Tinea Corporis

Ringworm gets called a lot of things, but this is it. Spread easily through clothing, pools, showers, and even pets, ringworm is a common skin condition for children, but very treatable.

Tinea corporis: an updated review

The standard treatment of tinea corporis is with topical antifungals and there is evidence of the superiority of topical antifungals over the use of placebo. Localized or superficial tinea corporis usually responds to topical antifungal therapy applied to the lesion and at least 2 cm beyond the lesion once or twice daily for 2–4 weeks. Commonly used topical antifungal agents include azoles...

Unlocking the Secrets of Tinea Corporis and Glowing Skin

Tinea corporis, sometimes known as "ringworm," is a dermatophyte fungus-caused fungal skin ailment. Despite its name, ringworm is caused by microscopic fungus rather than worms. It is a highly contagious disease that affects people of all ages. Tinea corporis is caused by a dermatophyte fungus that feeds on dead skin, hair, and nails. Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton species are common culprits.

When Athletes Share Infections

Athletes are also vulnerable to fungal skin infections, like Tinea corporis, or ringworm, not to mention athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) and jock itch (Tinea cruris), two fungal infections whose popular names also reflect their tendency to hang around locker rooms. The fungal pathogens can be transmitted directly, skin to skin, but also by towels and contaminated surfaces.

Resources

Basicmedical Key

Tinea corporis is a common superficial fungal infection of the body, characterized by well-demarcated, annular lesions with central clearing, erythema, and scaling of the periphery.

CDC

Ringworm is a common infection of the skin and nails that is caused by fungus. The infection is called “ringworm” because it can cause an itchy, red, circular rash. Ringworm is also called “tinea” or “dermatophytosis.” The different types of ringworm are usually named for the location of the infection on the body.

DermNet

If tinea corporis persists despite topical imidazole creams, or is extensive, oral therapy is required for two to eight weeks, usually terbinafine or itraconazole. Oral azoles require specialist approval for PHARMAC subsidy. Griseofulvin may be more effective for M. canis infections but is no longer readily available in New Zealand.

Mayo Clinic

Also called tinea corporis, ringworm of the body is closely related to athlete's foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). Ringworm often spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal.

MedicineNet

Animals can also be affected by ringworm and may transmit the condition to humans. In this case, ringworm is an example of a zoonotic disease, or a disease transmitted from animals to humans. Although cats are affected by ringworm more than dogs, dogs are also commonly affected. In animals, ringworm causes raised, circular areas that frequently are crusted over and associated with hair loss.

StatPearls

Tinea corporis is a superficial fungal skin infection of the body caused by dermatophytes. Tinea corporis is present worldwide. It is defined explicitly by the location of the lesions that may involve the trunk, neck, arms, and legs. Alternative names exist for dermatophyte infections that affect the other areas of the body. These include the scalp (tinea capitis), the face (tinea faciei), hands (tinea manuum), the groin (tinea cruris), and feet (tinea pedis).

TeensHealth

Although their names — ringworm, jock itch, and athlete's foot — may sound funny, if you're a teen with one of these skin infections, you're probably not laughing. If you've ever had one, you know that all of these can produce some pretty unpleasant symptoms.