RINGWORM/ DERATOPHYTOSIS/ TINEADermatophytosis

RINGWORM/ DERATOPHYTOSIS/ TINEA Dermatophytosis or ringworm is a clinical condition caused by fungal infection of the skin in humans, pets such as cats, and domesticated animals such as sheep and cattle. 

This is the most common fungal infection of the skin caused by the organism. Often, there are several patches of ringworm on your skin at once. CAUSE Ringworm is common, especially among children. However, it may affect people of all ages. It is caused by a fungus, not a worm like the name suggests. SYMPTOMS Symptoms of ringworm include: • Itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze. • The patches tend to have sharply-defined edges. • Red patches are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center. This may look like a ring. If ringworm affects hair ,then bald patches. If ringworm affects nails, they will become discolored, thick, and even crumble. TYPES OF RINRWORM DEPENDS UPON SITE OF INVOLVEMENTS • Tinea barbae: Ringworm of the bearded area and moustache, with swelling and marked crusting, is often accompanied by itching, sometimes causing the hair to break off. In the days when men went to the barber daily for a shave, tinea barbae was called barber's itch. • Tinea capitis: Ringworm of the scalp commonly affects children, mostly in late childhood or adolescence. This condition may spread in schools. Tinea capitis appears as scalp scaling that is associated with bald spots (in contrast to seborrhea or dandruff, for instance, which do not cause hair loss). • Tinea corporis: When fungus affects the trunk & extremities, it often produces the round spots of classic ringworm. • Tinea cruris: Tinea of the groin ("jock itch") tends to have a reddish-brown color and extends from the folds of the groin down onto one or both thighs. • Tinea faciei (faciale): ringworm on the face excluding in the area of the beard. On the face, ringworm is rarely ring shaped. Characteristically, it causes red, scaly patches with indistinct edges. • Tinea manus: ringworm involving the hands, particularly the palms and the spaces between the fingers. It typically causes thickening (hyperkeratosis) of these areas, often on only one hand. Tinea manus is a common companion of tinea pedis (ringworm of the feet). It is also called tinea manuum. • Tinea pedis: infection of the soles & toe may cause scaling and inflammation in the toe webs, especially the one between the fourth and fifth toes. Another common form of tinea pedis produces a thickening or scaling of the skin on the heels and soles. • Tinea unguium: Finally, fungal infection can make the fingernails and, more often, the toenails yellow, thick, and crumbly. This is referred to as fungal nails or onychomycosis. MODE OF SPREAD Ringworm can spread easily from one person to another. Person catch ringworm if touch someone who has the infection, or if come into contact with items contaminated by the fungus, such as combs, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. Also catch ringworm from pets that carry the fungus. Cats are common carriers. The fungus that causes ringworm thrive in warm, moist areas. Ringworm is more likely when often wet (such as from sweating) and from minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails. PREVENTION • Keep your skin clean and dry. • Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, lotions, or creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar ingredients. • Don't wear clothing that rubs against and irritates the area. • Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while you are infected. • Shampoo regularly, especially after haircuts. • Do not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, combs, headgear, or other personal care items. Such items should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after use. • Wear sandals or shoes at gyms, lockers, and pools. • Avoid touching pets with bald spots. HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR RINGWORM • VIOL. T : thick, pours out yellow pus , indicated fof lesions on the scalp . • SULPHUR: head and face bleed easily, thick pus ; calc. carb. : spreads to face, thick mild pus, at times in isolated spots and white • HEPER: after salves, itches mornings, yellowish dischage • SILICEA: more back of head, pustules • LYCOPODIUM. : thick, offensive, angry, oozes pus, worse on occiput • ARS. ALB :angry excoriating discharge , burning • NIT .ACID . : nape of neck: • NAT. MUR : nape of neck, impetiginoid • LITHIUM CARB.: skin dry, harsh, itching • ANT . CRUD : hard thick crusts; • MERC : beccming scaly, pustules, eruption worse in warmth of bed ; • MEZERIUM : head covered with a thick, leathery crust, under which pus collects and mats the hair. • SARSA : Agg. In summer, thick , itchy, cracked & scaly lesions • PETROLIUM : Agg. In winter, thick , itchy, cracked & scaly lesions • KALI SULPH: Yellowish green discharge with crusty lesions • GRAPH :Sticky & yellowish discharge • SEPIA: Sepia is an useful remedy for symptoms associated with ringworm. There are ringworm like eruptions every spring. Itching is not relieved by scratching and is worse in bends of elbows and knees. It is also useful in ringworm on face, on single parts. • TELLURIUM MET : Tellurium Metallicum is a chief remedy for many skin complaints. There is itching of hands and feet. It also helps in herpes, ringworm, barber's itch. Ring shaped lesions with offensive odors from affected parts. There is stinging pain in skin. Offensive foot sweat. There is also eczema at back of ears and occiput. There are circular patches of eczema