Ringworm (Fungal Skin Infections)

Common name: Medical term: Comments:
Athlete's foot or foot fungustinea pedisfungi like to grow in moist skin between toes

Skin fungus

tinea corporis

causes ring shape rash that spreads on body
Scalp fungustinea capitismight initially look like dandruff, leads to transitory loss of hair
Nail fungustinea unguiumwithout treatment can destroy nail
Jock itchtinea crurisaffects upper inner thighs, more common during the summer
Ringworm of the beardtinea barbae in agricultural workers, otherwise bacterial infection more common

Introduction:

Ringworm is a fungal skin infection. It can masquerade with many faces, but there are six common presentations as is shown in the table above. There are often more than one cause as many fungus infections of the skin belong into the same group of "dermatophyte infections", and often they respond well to the same antifungal agents.

Here is a link to a site that depicts tinea corporis:   Picture of ringworm infection.

Occasionally a fungus infection of the skin becomes a diagnostic problem as it can look like eczema, psoriasis or other skin disease.

The treating physician will have to re-evaluate the patient, if a treatment course with a medication does not heal the condition. At this point another option would be to refer the patient to a skin specialist and I will often mention this in the subchapters that deal with the various forms of ringworm (see links in the above table). This is particularly important, if there is a superinfection of the skin condition with another bacterial or fungal bug or if there is an underlying skin cancer that has been superinfected with ringworm.

Infections Overview Skin InfectionsTinea Infections


 

 

Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1.The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 265.

2.James Chin et al., Editors: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th edition, 2000, American Public Health Association

3.The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 112.

4. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 115.

5. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 113.

Last Modified: Jan.3, 2009