Ringworm Skin Disease
What is Ringworm Skin Disease
Ringworm (Tinea corporis) or ringworm skin disease is the name used for superficial skin infections of the trunk, legs or arms of a dermatophyte fungus. Dermatophytes are associated with ringworm skin disease which is a group of related fungi that infect and survive on the top layer of the epidermis or skin called the keratin. Ringworm skin disease is a skin infection caused by this fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails or feet.
Category of Ringworm Skin Disease
There are three groups of fungi that cause ringworm skin disease and can be categorized according to their preferred host sources:
* geophile or fungi from soil sources
* zoophile or fungi from animals
* anthropophile or fungi from humans
The fungi transmitted primarily through contact with animals or zoophile is usually responsible for ringworm skin disease. Ringworm skin disease is usually transmitted through contact with animals such as dogs, cats, calves, hamsters, and guinea pigs.
Most mammals have at least one type of fungus, and in most instances the animal and fungus coexist without the animal ever manifesting any symptoms of the fungus or causing the ringworm skin disease. This does not mean that the fungus cannot be transmitted to humans and may cause ringworm skin disease. Children are particularly vulnerable to ringworm skin disease and can pass it effortlessly to other children. Adults are not immune and can also become infected with ringworm skin disease. Persons who fall in the high risk of ringworm skin disease are farmers and people who work with animals that have fur may also get ringworm skin disease. The term tinea corporis is the medical term for ringworm, which refers to round or oval red scaly patches on the skin. They are often seen to be less red and scaly in the middle or even look healed at the center. Ringworm skin disease is common for one ring to develop inside another preexisting ring.
Acute and Chronic Ringworm Skin Disease
Ringworm may be acute which means there is a sudden onset and it rapidly spreads. Or it could be chronic which is a slow broadening of a mild, minimally inflamed, rash. Most often it affects exposed areas but could also spread from other infected sites. Non-fungal conditions that resemble ringworm include impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea. Acute ringworm shows up as itchy inflamed red patches that may be pustular. Chronic ringworm is more likely to be found in body folds. Acute ringworm has a tendency to be stubborn to treat and prone to recurrence if widespread. Lessening of natural skin resistance to fungi or because of re-infection from the environment could possibly be the reason for the recurrence of ringworm skin disease.
