Chitika1

Sunday 4 December 2011

RINGWORM-SKIN DASEASE


What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a common skin disorder otherwise known as tinea. While there are multiple forms of ringworm, the most common affect the skin on the body (tinea corporis), the scalp (tinea capitis), the feet (tinea pedis, or 'athlete's foot'), or the groin (tinea cruris, or 'jock itch').

Does ringworm mean I have worms?

Ringworm is not, as its name suggests, caused by a worm. Characterized by round lesions (rings) and early belief that the infection was caused by a parasite (worm), the term ringworm was born. Further confusion comes from the medical term for ringworm, tinea, which is Latin for 'growing worm.' While the condition is actually the result of a fungal infection, the name 'ringworm' has stuck

What causes ringworm?

Although the world is full of yeasts, molds, and fungi, only a few cause skin problems. Ringworm fungi are known as dermatophytes -- microscopic organisms that live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair, and nails, much like a mushroom can grow on the bark of a tree.

What types of ringworm are there?

As mentioned previously, there are several types of ringworm (tinea) that can affect different parts of the body. On the next several slides, we'll take a look at the various forms from head to toe

Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)

When fungus affects the skin of the body, it often produces the round spots of classic ringworm. Sometimes, these spots have an "active" outer border as they slowly grow and advance. It is important to distinguish this rash from other even more common rashes, such as nummular eczema. This condition, and others, may appear similar to ringworm, but they are not fungal and require different treatment.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)

Ringworm of the scalp commonly affects children, mostly in late childhood or adolescence. This condition may spread in schools. Tinea capitis appears as scalp scaling that is associated with bald spots (in contrast to seborrhea or dandruff, for instance, which do not cause hair loss).

Ringworm of the foot (tinea pedis)

Tinea pedis is an extremely common skin disorder. It is the most common and perhaps the most persistent of the fungal (tinea) infections. Also known as athlete's foot, it may cause scaling and inflammation in the toe webs, especially the one between the fourth and fifth toes. Another common form of tinea pedis produces a thickening or scaling of the skin on the heels and soles as well as blisters between the toes or on the sole

Ringworm of the groin (tinea cruris)

Tinea of the groin ('jock itch') tends to have a reddish-brown color and to extend from the folds of the groin down onto one or both thighs. Other conditions that can mimic tinea cruris include yeast infections, psoriasis, and intertrigo, a chafing rash which results from skin rubbing against skin.

Ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae)

Ringworm of the bearded area of the face and neck, with swellings and marked crusting, often with itching, sometimes causes the hair to break off. In the days when men went to the barber daily for a shave, tinea barbae was called barber's itch.

Ringworm of the face (tinea faciei)

Ringworm on the face outside of the beard area is called tinea faciei. On the face, ringworm is rarely ring-shaped. Characteristically, it causes red, scaly patches with indistinct edges.

Ringworm of the hand (tinea manus)

Ringworm may involve the hands, particularly the palms and the spaces between the fingers. It typically causes thickening (hyperkeratosis) of these areas, often on only one hand. Tinea manus is a common companion of tinea pedis (ringworm of the feet). It is also called tinea manuum.

Ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium)

This is the most common fungal infection of the nails, also called onychomycosis. It can make fingernails look white, thick, opaque, and brittle, but more often toenails look yellow, thick, and brittle. Artificial nails increase the risk for tinea unguium as emery boards can carry infection, and water can collect under the artificial nail, creating a moist, warm environment favorable for fungal growth













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