DERMATOPHYTE INFECTION

TYPES

The most typical medical subtypes of dermatophyte infections are the following:

Skin

• Tinea corporis (ringworm)
• Tinea pedis  (athlete’s foot)
• Tinea cruris (jock itch)
• Tinea faciei (facial ringworm)
• Tinea manuum (ringworm of the hand)

Hair

• Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm)
• Tinea barbae (ringworm of the beard)

Nails

• Tinea unguium (nail infection)

Majocchi’s granuloma is a form of dermatophyte infection distinguished by the progression of epidermal infection into the hair follicle and dermis.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms depend on the location of the illness. The following symptoms may occur:

• itchiness
• red, brown, or gray scaly or itchy patches, or elevated regions of skin called plaques.
• a circular, flat, itching skin patch
• lesions that form blisters or pustules
• ring-shaped blemishes that are darker on the exterior.
• blemishes with well-defined, elevated edges
• overlapping rings
• hair loss
• nails may become more robust or discolored.

DIAGNOSIS

A dermatophyte infection is often diagnosed when matching lesions or inflammation appear clinically. The diagnostic procedures listed below may typically confirm the diagnosis.

• Direct microscopy
• Blood tests
• Fungal cultures, or Wood’s light examination

If a dermatophyte infection is originally misdiagnosed as a comparable skin disease and treated with topical corticosteroids, the tinea’s distinctive look might be obscured. This may make the diagnosing procedure more challenging and may cause therapy to be delayed.

TREATMENT

The doctor may prescribe these antifungal drugs for the treatment of dermatophyte infection.

• Griseofulvin
• Terbinafine 
• Clotrimazole
• Ketoconazole
• Tolnaftate 

Topical treatments should then be continued for a further 7 days after the resolution of visible symptoms to prevent a recurrence. The treatment duration is generally two weeks, but may be as long as three.