Tinea Infection (= Ringworm)

From WebHealth

Ringworm (=Fungal Skin Infections)
Common name:	Medical term:	Comments:
Athlete's foot or foot fungus	tinea pedis	fungi like to grow in moist skin between toes
Skin fungus	tinea corporis	causes ring shape rash that spreads on body
Scalp fungus	tinea capitis	might initially look like dandruff, leads to transitory loss of hair
Nail fungus	tinea unguium	without treatment can destroy nail
Jock itch	tinea cruris	affects upper inner thighs, more common during the summer
Ringworm of the beard	tinea barbae	in agricultural workers, otherwise bacterial infection more common

[edit] Tinea Infection (= Ringworm)

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 infections

Tinea infections

Common skin conditions

References:

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

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

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