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Ringworm

 
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Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin in humans and domestic animals such as sheep and cattle. Fungi are organisms that survive by eating plant or animal material. Those that cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive best on skin that is moist, hot, and hidden from the light. It is estimated that up to twenty percent of the population is infected by ringworm or one of the other dermatophytoses at any given moment.






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Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin in humans and domestic animals such as sheep and cattle. Fungi are organisms that survive by eating plant or animal material. Those that cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive best on skin that is moist, hot, and hidden from the light. It is estimated that up to twenty percent of the population is infected by ringworm or one of the other dermatophytoses at any given moment. It is especially common among people who play sports, wrestling in particular.

Misdiagnosis and treatment of ringworm with a topical steroid
Topical steroid

Topical steroids are the topical forms of corticosteroids. Topical steroids are the most commonly prescribed topical medications for the treatment of rash, eczema, and dermatitis....
 can result in tinea incognito
Tinea incognito

Tinea incognito is a mycosis of the skin caused by the pretense of a topical Immunosuppressive drug. The usual agent is a topical corticosteroid ....
, a condition where ringworm fungus will grow without typical features like a distinctive raised border.

Prevention


Fungi thrive in moist, warm areas, such as locker rooms and swimming pools, and in skin fold
Skin fold

Skin folds are areas of skin where it folds. Many skin folds are distinct, heritable anatomical features, and may be used for identification of animal species, while others are non-specific and may be produced either by individual development of an organism or by arbitrary application of force to skin, either by the actions of the muscles of...
s. The fungi may be present without any symptoms.

Advice often given to prevent ringworm includes:

  • Avoidance of sharing clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets.
  • Washing clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap after suspected exposure to ringworm.


  • Avoidance of walking barefoot, wearing of appropriate protective shoes to the beach and flip-flops or thongs in locker rooms.


  • After being exposed to places where the potential of being infected is great , one should wash with an antibacterial and anti-fungal soap or one that contains Tea Tree Oil
    Tea tree oil

    Tea tree oil or melaleuca oil is a clear to very pale golden color essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor. It is taken from the leaf of the Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia....
    , which contains terpinen-4-ol.


Diagnosis


With skin scraping and rapid microscopic identification with potassium hydroxide preparation.

With fungal culture and species identification. Might take up to 2 to 3 weeks for a result.

With DTM (dermatophyte testing medium). Result will take from 7 to 14 days.

Treatment


Antifungal treatment
Antifungal drug

An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungi infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis , serious systemic infections such as cryptococcus meningitis, and others....
s include topical agents such as miconazole
Miconazole

Miconazole is an imidazole antifungal agent, developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, and commonly applied topically or mucus membranes to cure fungus infections....
 or terbinafine
Terbinafine

Terbinafine hydrochloride is a synthetic allylamine antifungal. It is highly lipophilic in nature and tends to accumulate in skin, Nail , and fatty tissues....
 applied twice daily until symptoms resolve (usually within two weeks), however if constantly touched it can leave a dark patch of skin where it had been. In more severe cases or where there is scalp ringworm, systemic treatment with oral medications may be given.

See also

  • Folliculitis
    Folliculitis

    Folliculitis is the inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on the skin....
  • Pityriasis rosea
    Pityriasis rosea

    Pityriasis rosea is an acute, self-limiting skin eruption with a distinctive and constant course, with an initial lesions that is a primary plaque that is followed after 1 or 2 weeks by a generalized secondary rash with a typical distribution and lasting for about 6 weeks....


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