Health Centres - Ringworm (tinea corporis)
What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a skin infection caused by fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails, or feet.
The fungi that cause skin infection of this type can be divided into three groups according to their favourite hosts or sources:
- geophile (from soil sources)
- zoophile (from animals)
- anthropophile (from humans).
The fungi that are usually responsible for ringworm are zoophile and transmitted primarily through contact with animals. The scientific term for ringworm is
What causes ringworm?
It 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 usually the animal and fungus live in peaceful coexistence without the animal ever showing any symptoms. This does not mean that the fungus cannot be transmitted to humans.
Children are particularly susceptible to ringworm and can pass it on easily to other children. Adults can also become infected. Farmers and people who work with animals that have fur are at increased risk.
What are the symptoms?
Typically, scaly red patches on the skin, the size of which varies from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter.
The patches are ring-shaped or oval and the edges are red and scaly. Inside the ring, the skin may be a bit scaly but looks normal in all other respects. The fungus spreads from the centre of the patch but the activity is confined to the outer edge.
The infected areas are usually itchy.
Who is at risk?
- Children who come into close contact with animals.
- Farmers.
- People who work with animals that have fur, eg fur farmers, laboratory staff, etc.
How is it diagnosed?
The rash itself will usually provide ample evidence for the diagnosis. A scrape may be made for cultivation and microscopic examination. Certain fungi become fluorescent (glow in the dark) when exposed to ultraviolet light (Wood's light).
What is the treatment?
Depending on the severity of the infection, ringworm can be treated by using antifungal cream or by taking antifungal tablets.
Future prospects
If the infection is treated it will usually disappear relatively quickly, but the treatment should normally be continued for a while after the rash improves to eradicate the fungus.
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