There are many types of skin diseases that happen in animals and humans. Ringworm is one of these types of skin issue and this occurs in human due to fungal infection or spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected animal or person. Ringworm is also termed as tinea or dermatophytosis or dermatophyte infection. This skin disease occurs to the fungal issue. Ringworm has different names based on the location on the human body.
What are the causes of ringworm?
Ringworm is spreadable fungi and disease which causes this disease can live on the skin and the atmosphere. This is a contagious fungal infection and can spread from human to human, object to human, animal to human and soil to human. Human to human infection happens when an infected person contact skin-to-skin with another person. It may happen while grooming or petting infected dogs or cats. So, we need to be extremely alert while grooming or petting these animals. Wearing gloves can decrease the chance of skin-to-skin contact. Objects such as bedding, towels, clothes, combs, brushes, etc, which are used by the infected persons or animals can also cause the spread of this disease.
A weak defense system, living in hot climate and wearing tight or restrictive clothing also cause the disease. Prolong contact with the infected soil can cause the disease. In the soil, there are lots of types of fungi are found and depending on one’s immense system, these can affect the skin. Tinea pedis is frequently seen in the people who go barefoot in public places like swimming pools, markets, public showers, etc.
Though this disease does not go deep into the skin and it spreads curable and surficial. But those who have a weak defense system, such as patients with AIDS disease, it may be hard to get rid of the ringworm issue.
Symptoms
Tinea infection causes skin lesions which look different depending on the affected area, the feet body, scalp, or groin area. Tinea fungi need moist atmosphere, warm, and infection generally happens in the hottest, most sweat-prone areas of the body.
Lesions are reddish and may be scaly and dry, or crusted and moist. There may also be little areas of pus and blister-like lesions. The central area generally clears as the ring gets bigger and the skin may look general.
Tinea infection of the feet is sometimes known as athlete’s foot. Frequently it emerges as cracked and moist skin the toes that can be quite itchy and scaly. The infection can also involve the nails or hair beds. Secondary bacterial infection is general.
Some people develop deep infections with these fungi types. Instead of affecting the skin, the fungi infect deep body tissues, including brain or the liver. These deep fungal most generally happen in people have weakened defense systems and can be deadly.
Care and prevention
Through the attendance of signs of contagious disease ringworms begin from 4 to 14 days after the infection, it is curable if the treatment starts at the early stage of symptoms. Delay in the treatment of the infection even after detection with Olight Arkfled Pro Flat Flashlight with UV rays cause a longer duration of treatment.
Following are the steps that can stop the disease from causing and spreading to others:
- Keeping the living area dry and clean can decrease the infection as fungi cause ringworm to develop and populate in the human and dry areas.
- Avoid sharing the belongings of the infected person like clothing, towels, beddings, combs, soaps, etc.
- Educate your kids and other people about the bad effects of this disease and teach them not to get in skin-to-skin contact with affected pets, persons and animals to avoid infection.
- If participating in sports events, reject sharing your sports gears and wears with other people and also try not to borrow the same from others.
- Keep the playing and shared area for children cool, clean, and dry mainly schools, locker rooms, child care centres, etc.
- There is a time limited vaccine accessible for pets against ringworm disease. Get your pets vaccinated as early as easy before getting affected by them.
Transmissions
Tinea-causing fungi can be found on animals, humans and in the soil. Spread is fostered by overcrowding, bad hygiene, shared bathroom facilities, malnutrition and humid conditions. Overheading and perspiration contribute to tinea issues.
Tinea is spread by indirect and direct contact with fungal cells, from scalp and skin lesions of people who have infections, contaminated floors, lesions of animals, shower cubicles, clothing, benches, and towels.
The time from contact with tinea-causing fungi to development of signs is about 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the fungus type. Tinea can be transmitted for as long as lesions are present or there are fungi on contaminated objects.
Every person is susceptible to developing tinea. People at increased danger include those who live in areas where high humidity and high temperatures occur, and people who handle animals who have the infection.
FAQs
Which is the successful treatment for ringworm?
There are two stages of ringworm disease. In the initial or primary stage, the treatment can be with home remedies and also with over-the-counter drugs like ointments, anti-fungal creams, powders, gel or sprays. But the second stage is the new stage or more extreme stage. In this stage, no self-treatment is suggested and the patient needs to talk with a dermatologist.
How the ringworm infection can occur?
Ringworm is a contagious fungal issue and spread by skin-to-skin contact with affected animals or people. This can also happen to prolonged contact with the infected soil.
Is there any vaccine accessible for the care of ringworm fungal human infection?
No, there is no such vaccine is presently, accessible for humans. But there is a time-limited vaccine accessible for pets, mainly for dogs, horses, and cats.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your physician if you have a rash that does not start to better within 2 weeks of using an over-the-counter antifungal product, you may need prescription drug.
