Ringworm (Tinea)

Overview:

Ringworm is an common infectious skin infection seen in many species of mammal, including cats, dogs & humans. Contrary to the name, ringworm is caused by a microscopic group of parasitic fungal organisms known as dermatophytes (which means plants that life on the skin). Ringworm invades the dead, outer layers of the skin, nails (or claws), and hair. The fungus thrives best in areas that are warm & moist.

This article looks at ringworm in humans. See here for ringworm in dogs & cats.

There are different types of ringworm including;

• Tinea corporis - Ringworm of the body in general.
• Tinea capitis - Ringworm of the scalp. This is most often seen in children.
• Tinea cruris (also known as Jock Itch) - Ringworm of the groin.
• Tinea barbae - Ringworm of the bearded area of the face & neck.
• Tinea faciei - Ringworm of the face (excluding the bearded areas).
• Tinea manus - Ringworm of the palms & fingers. 
• Tinea pedis  (also known as Athletes Foot) - Fungus of the foot.
• Tinea unguium - Fungus of the nails.

How is ringworm transmitted?

There are many ways to catch ringworm including;

• From infected people or pets.
• Sharing personal items with somebody who has ringworm (towels, shoes etc).
• Athletes foot is spread via moist environments where people walk barefoot such as swimming pools, changing rooms etc. 

Symptoms of ringworm:

Symptoms can vary depending on the type & location of the fungus. Common symptoms include;

• Circular (annular) patches on the skin with a distinctive raised border. Over time, the round patches spread & may overlap.
• Itching.
• In some cases, cracks in the skin can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
• Thickening & yellowing of the nails (Tinea unguium).
• Bald spots on the scalp.
• Scaling, flaking or cracking of the skin. Blisters may form, exposing raw & painful tissue. (Tinea pedis).

Diagnosis if ringworm:

Most cases of ringworm are diagnosed based on appearance. If diagnosis is not possible by visual inspection, your doctor may perform a skin scraping to confirm diagnosis.

A wood's lamp can help diagnose ringworm on parts of the body with hair. Affected areas will fluoresce under ultraviolet light.

Treatment of ringworm:

• Antifungal cream, which is usually applied twice a day.
• If creams fail to shift the infection, oral medications may be prescribed.

Preventing ringworm:

• Always wear footwear in public areas such as swimming pool changing rooms etc.
• Don’t share towels, footware etc.
• Wash your hands after handling animals.
• Don’t handle animals if you notice any bald patches.
• Dry yourself thoroughly, especially in areas that tend to sweat more such as the feet & between the toes.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after touching infected areas (ie; applying creams).

Decontaminating the Environmen

Photos of ringworm:

The first two photographs are ringworm on cats, the last one is ringworm on a person.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a doctor & should not be considered a replacement for a doctor visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.