Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Ringworm

Ringworm, also known as Tinea is a contagious fungal infection of the skin. Contrary to its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
Gastroesophageal reflux...
Rabies
Radiophobia
Rasmussen's encephalitis
Raynaud's phenomenon
Reactive arthritis
Reactive hypoglycemia
Reflex sympathetic...
Regional enteritis
Reiter's Syndrome
Renal agenesis
Renal artery stenosis
Renal calculi
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal failure
Renal osteodystrophy
Renal tubular acidosis
Repetitive strain injury
Respiratory acidosis
Restless legs syndrome
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinoblastoma
Retinoschisis
Retrolental fibroplasia
Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Rett syndrome
Reye's syndrome
Rh disease
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatism
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rickets
Rift Valley fever
Ringworm
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Romano-Ward syndrome
Roseola infantum
Rubella
Rubeola
Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
Rumination disorder
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Ringworm is very common, especially among children, and may be spread by skin-to-skin contact, as well as via contact with contaminated items such as hairbrushes. Ringworm spreads readily, as those infected are contagious even before they show symptoms of the disease. Humans can contract ringworm from animals; cats and dogs are often carriers. It should be noted that any contact sports such as wrestling has a risk of contracting the fungal infection through skin-to-skin contact.

Types

A number of species of fungi called dermatophytes cause ringworm. Members of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum are the most common causative agents. These fungi attack various parts of the body and lead to the following conditions:

  • Tinea corporis affects the arms, legs, and trunk
  • Tinea capitis affects the scalp
  • Tinea cruris (jock itch) affects the groin area
  • Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) affects the feet
  • Tinea unguium affects the fingernails and toenails
  • Tinea versicolor

Symptoms and diagnosis

The most well known sign of ringworm is the appearance of one or more red raised itchy patches with defined edges. These patches are often lighter in the center, taking on the appearance of a ring. If the infected area involves the scalp or beard area, then bald patches may become evident. If the nails are affected, they may thicken, discolor, and finally crumble.

Doctors can diagnose ringworm on sight, or they may take a skin scraping. This is examined under a microscope, or put on an agar plate in a microbiology laboratory and allowed to grow. Some of the fungi fluoresce under a black light examination.

Topical antifungal drugs containing miconazole and clotrimazole, available by perscription or over the counter, are used to clear up the infection.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Wrestling Risks - ringworm in school age wrestlers - Brief Article
From Pediatrics for Parents, 5/1/98

Many school age wrestlers contract tinea corporis, commonly called ring worm. Once the diagnosis has been made, the student has to avoid competition until the rash has gone away.

One study of 37 high school wrestlers found that, in the first half of the wrestling season, ten developed tinea corporis. In the second half of the season, the same students received a weekly dose itraconazole, an antifungal medicine sold as Sporanox. None of the wrestlers developed any symptoms of an active tinea infection.

Regular use of itraconazole, currently available only by prescription, may prevent the spread of ringworm from one wrestler to another.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Return to Ringworm
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay