Ringworm

There are many types of skin diseases that occur in humans and animals. Ringworm is one of these types of skin disease and this occurs in humans due to fungal infection and/or spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal. Ringworm is also termed as dermatophytosis or tinea or dermatophyte infection (word “derma” means skin). This skin disease occurs due to the fungal infection and “misnomer”, a fungus, causes this disease. Ringworm has different names based on the location on the human body.

For example, ‘tinea pedis’ is the ringworm of the feet, ‘tinea capitis’ is the ringworm of the scalp and ‘tinea cruris’ is the ringworm of the groin. Initially, it appears as a red ring or red patch on the affected areas of the skin and later it spreads on the other parts of the body. The affected area of the skin resembles a worm in the shape of the ring; therefore, the disease has got its name – Ringworm.

Causes and Symptoms of Ringworm

Ringworm is caused by?

Ringworm is a spreadable disease and fungi which cause this disease can live on the skin and the environment. This is a contagious fungal infection and can spread from human to human, animal to human, object to human and soil to human. Human to human infection occurs when an infected person contacts skin-to-skin with another person. It may occur while petting or grooming infected cats or dogs. So, we need to be very careful while petting or grooming these animals. Wearing gloves can reduce the chance of skin-to-skin contact. Objects such as towels, clothes, bedding, brushes, combs, etc. which are used by the infected persons or animals can also cause the spread of this disease.

A weak immune system, living in a warm climate (causing too much sweating) and wearing tight or restrictive clothing also cause the disease. Prolong contact with the infected soil can causes the disease. In the soil, there are many types of fungi are found and depending on one’s immune system, these can affect the skin. Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is frequently seen in the people who go barefoot in public places like, markets, swimming pools, public showers etc.

Though this disease does not go deep into the skin and it spreads surficial and curable. But those who have a weak immune system, such as patients with AIDS disease, it may be difficult to get rid of the ringworm infection.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ringworm include red, itchy or scaly patches on the affected areas of the skin. It also has raised and redder on the outer edges forming as rings or overlapping rings. Around these rings, itching occurs causing the spread of the disease on the other parts of nearby parts or the skin. In due course of time skin colour changes to reddish, purplish, brown, grey on black.

Prevention and Cure

Though the appearance of signs of contagious disease ringworm starts from four to fourteen days after the infection, it is curable if the treatment starts at the early stages of symptoms. Delay in the treatment of the disease even after detection of disease cause a longer duration of treatment.

Following are the steps that can prevent the disease from causing and spreading to others:

1. Keeping the living area clean and dry can reduce the infection as fungi cause ringworm to develop and populate in the dirty and humid areas.
2. Avoid sharing the belongings of the infected person like towels, clothing, beddings, soaps, combs, etc.
3. Educate your children and other people about the side effects of this disease and teach them not to get in skin-to-skin contact with affected pets, animals and persons to avoid infection.
4. Keep the playing and shared area for children clean, cool and dry especially schools, child care centres, locker rooms etc.
5. If participating in sports events, avoid sharing your sports wears and gears with other people and also try not to borrow the same from others.
6. There is a time-limited vaccine available for pets against ringworm disease. Get your pets vaccinated as early as possible before getting affected by them.
7. Wash your and children’s hands with soap and running water after playing with pets to avoid infections. Also avoid walking barefooted in the common areas, sharing showers, locker rooms, swimming pools.

Keeping aforesaid precautions can keep you and your children away from such kinds of infectious and contagious diseases.

Ringworm Treatment

There are two stages of ringworm disease. In the first or initial stage, a red or pinkish irritated area forms in the form of a patch where the skin is dry and scaly and some itching on the affected area. Whereas, in the second stage, the affected area grows and skin colour changes to reddish, purplish, brown, grey on black.

There are different types of treatments available to cure ringworm disease. The treatment depends on the location of the affected area on the body and the seriousness of the infection. As it is a fungal infection, a non-prescribed anti-fungal cream or medication is sufficient for the cure. But this type of self-treatment is fine if the disease is in the initial stage. If the severity is high, consultation with a dermatologist is preferable.

Treatment of athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm can be done by using over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, powders, ointments, gels or sprays if the severity is not on the alarming stage. Some prescribed oral medications are also may require for such treatment. Home remedies are also available to treat ringworms. This home treatment includes the use of coconut oil, turmeric or apple cider vinegar. In this, applying coconut oil may soothe the skin from irritation.  Turmeric paste is applied to the area and allowed to dry. On the other hand, the apple cider vinegar-soaked cotton balls are applied to the affected area. All these treatments are advisable for the initial stage of the disease.

FAQs on Ringworm

Q.1: How the ringworm disease can occur?

Answer: Ringworm is a contagious fungal disease and spread by skin-to-skin contact with affected people and/or animals. This can also occur due to prolonged contact with the infected soil.

Q.2: How many types of ringworms are present in nature?

Answer: There are approximately 40 types of ringworm fungal infections in nature. Their names are different and are termed based on the affected location on the human body. Some of these are:

1. Tinea pedis or athlete’s foot: fungal infection of feet
2. Tinea faciei: fungal infection on the face
3. Tinea cruris: fungal infection in the groin area
4. Tinea barbae: fungal infection of facial hair
5. Tinea manuum: fungal infection in the palm and hands area

Q.3: What is the effective treatment for ringworms?

Answer: There are two stages of ringworm disease. In the First or initial stage, the treatment can be with home remedies and also with over-the-counter medicines like anti-fungal creams, ointments, gel, powders or sprays. But the second stage is the advanced stage or more severe stage. In this stage, no self-treatment is advisable and the patient needs to consult with a dermatologist.

Q.4: Is there any vaccine available for the cure of ringworm fungal infection for humans?

Answer: No, there is no such vaccine is currently, available for humans. But there is a time-limited vaccine available for pets, especially for horses, dogs and cats.