SKIN GURU
TINEA “RINGWORM” INFECTIONS
By Dr. Andrew Forde
D
ermatophyte
fungi
the
genera
scattered areas of scalp dryness and can progress to
Microsporum
and
generalised dandruff. Single or multiple oval patches
Epidermophyton cause these infections. These fungi
of hair loss may contain black dots (broken hairs),
invade the upper layer of the skin composed of keratin
dryness, pustules or a swollen abscess like mass
and also affect the hair and nails. Infections can
(kerion). Yellow crusting and exudates (wetness) can
spread from person to person (anthropophilic),
also be associated with severe infection. Swollen
animals to man (zoophilic) and less commonly from
glands (lymph nodes) appear in the neck.
Trichophyton,
of
the soil to man (geophilic).
Tinea
pedis
affects
the
feet
and
is
usually
asymmetrical. There are three main patterns:
Moist peeling and cracking of the skin between the
toes
A moccasin - type pattern consisting of powdery
dryness, peeling and scaling of one sole
Acute infections present as small fluid filled structures
called vesicles before forming blisters. These can
affect the soles and between the toes.
CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS
Tinea corporis occurs on the trunk and limbs and
consist of oval plaques with raised scaling edges and
central healing. The edges of these ‘ring like’ lesions
may also contain papules or pustules. These patches
may be single or
multiple but tend to be
asymmetrically distributed.
Tinea capitis is a chronic scalp infection usually
affecting children under 12 yrs of age. It starts as
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