Tinea Corporis Contagious
Tinea Corporis Contagious
The fungi transmitted primarily through contact with animals and is termed zoophile is usually responsible for Tinea corporis contagious infection. 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. This does not mean that the fungus cannot be transmitted to humans. Zoophile is the fungi category in which the infection is passed by animals. There are two other categories of fungi that can cause infections of this type, geophile or fungi from soil sources and anthropophile, which are fungi from humans.
This highly contagious condition can be contracted by coming into direct contact with someone who is infected, or if contaminated items are touched. Because it is highly contagious the fungal infection can be passed from animal to person or person to person easily through contaminated items like clothing, shower or pool surfaces and toiletry items. The term tinea corporis is the medical term for ringworm, which refers to round or oval red scaly patches on the skin. Tinea corporis affects exposed areas but could also spread from other infected sites. Non-fungal conditions that resemble tinea corporis and could be mistaken for the infection include afflictions like impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea.
Ringworm or Tinea corporis infection forms a ring-shaped raised red rash in humans, but it is not the common appearance in animals. Ringworm infections in animals can take on any form. While ringworm can be passed from animals to humans, cats are the most likely of all animals to be infected and pass it on to human contacts. The possible spread of Tinea corporis to humans can also come from other animals, including horses, camels, sheep and cattle. Humans who have direct and repeated contact with animals have a much higher incidence of contracting the fungal infection this way. They are also far more likely to contract a fungal infection or ringworm of the anthropophile variety from places like a school, playground, gym, or shower facilities.
Children seem to be the most vulnerable to Tinea corporis skin infection and can easily pass it around to other children. This does not mean that adults are not immune and they can also become infected. The best way to prevent Tinea corporis infections is by keeping the skin clean and dry, changing socks and underwear each day, and wearing some type of shower shoe or sandal when in public showers or locker rooms.
