IS IT A WORM OR FUNGAL INFECTION?
Ringworm (Dermatophytosis ) is a clinical condition caused by fungal infection of the skin in humans, pets such as cats, and domesticated animals such as sheep and cattle. The term "ringworm" is a misnomer, since the condition is caused by fungi of several different species and not by parasitic worms. The fungi that cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive on skin that is warm and moist, but may also survive directly on the outsides of hair shafts or in their interiors. In pets, the fungus responsible for the disease survives in skin and on the outer surface of hairs.
Misdiagnosis and treatment of ringworm with a topical steroid, a standard treatment of the superficially similar pityriasis rosea, can result in tinea incognito, a condition where ringworm fungus will grow without typical features like a distinctive raised border.
Signs and symptoms
Infections on the body may give rise to typical enlarging raised red rings of ringworm, infection on the skin of the feet may cause athlete's foot and in the groin jock itch. Involvement of the nails is termed onychomycosis, and they may thicken, discolour, and finally crumble and fall off.
Animals such as dogs and cats can also be affected by ringworm and the disease can be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonotic disease).
Causes
Fungi thrive in moist, warm areas, such as locker rooms, tanning beds, swimming pools and in skin folds. It can be spread by sharing sport goods, towels, and clothing.
Prevention
• Avoid sharing clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets.
• Washing clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap after suspected exposure to ringworm.
• Avoid walking barefoot; instead wear appropriate protective shoes and sandals at the beach.
• After being exposed to places where the potential of being infected is great, one should wash with an antibacterial and anti-fungal soap
• Avoid touching pets with bald spots as they are often carriers of the fungus.
Treatment
Antifungal treatments include topical agents such as miconazole, terbinafine, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, or tolnaftate applied twice daily until symptoms resolve usually within one or two weeks.Topical treatments should then be continued for a further 7 days after resolution of visible symptoms to prevent recurrence. The total duration of treatment is therefore generally two weeks, but may be as long as three.In more severe cases or where there is scalp ringworm, systemic treatment with oral medications may be given.To prevent spreading the infection, lesions should not be touched, and good hygiene maintained with washing of hands and the body
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophytosis
