Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection caused on the skin. It gets its name because in this infection, the skin produces reddish bumpy and raised patches that may be lighter in the center, which appears like a “ring.”

Diagnosis:

Ringworm, medically known as ‘tinea’, is usually confused with other skin conditions which may or may not be caused by fungi. If an anti-fungal treatment does not cure suspected ringworm, then a proper diagnosis is essential such as a skin biopsy, fungal culture or skin scraping for fungus identification.

Affected areas:

Ringworm can occur anywhere on the body. It is named accordingly; depending on the location. If it occurs on the feet, it is known as tinea pedis or “athlete’s foot”, tinea cruris or “jock itch” when on the groin, tinea corposis when on the body or tinea capitis when on the scalp.

Causes:

‘Dermatophytes’ or skin fungi are responsible for causing ringworm. They live on the keratin protein on surface layer of the skin. They cannot survive in mucous membrane so they do not penetrate deeper in the skin nor can they survive in the mouth or vagina.

Treatment:

Ringworm can be treated topically or orally. Clotrimazole, Nicomazole and terbinifine are considered to be three effective ingredients that can be used in fixing this disease. A lot of ointments are made out of these three components, and it must be said that these ointments are considered to be very popular with doctors.

In some cases topical treatment is not effective; especially scalp fungus and fungus of the nails. Oral medications are necessary to treat these types of fungus. Antifungal tablets such as terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan) are proven to be more effective in recent times.

Prevention:

Fungi mostly grow in moist and warm areas such as swimming pools and locker rooms. You can avoid ringworm with the following measures

• Avoid sharing towel, clothes, sheets or sports equipments.
• Avoid walking barefoot, wearing closed footwear on the beach and flip-flops/thongs in locker rooms.
• Thoroughly wash the potential infected area with an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal soap.
• Thoroughly launder clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap if ringworm exposure is suspected.

Summary:

As mentioned earlier, there are many types of fungal infections. It is important to correctly diagnose ringworm to avoid wrong treatment and further side effects. Misdiagnosis and treatment can result in tinea incognito, a condition where the fungus will grow without the typical features of ringworm like the reddish round bumpy patch.