Ringworm in a person: photo, treatment, symptoms, causes
Ringworm, or trichophytosis - a fungal infectious disease of the skin and its appendages, which is caused by anthropophilic and zoophilic fungi, occurs in people of all ages, but is more often diagnosed in children and adolescents.
Pathology has been known since ancient times, as described by Egyptian wall paintings, but the taxonomic classification of fungal species was introduced only in the 30s of the 19th century, and the invention of the drug had to wait another hundred years.
The disease at that time was inherent exclusively in the poorest miles of people living in slums.
The causative agent of ringworm - fungus Trichophyton tonsurans was discovered more than 100 years ago. He received his name for his propensity to defeat hair.
Anthropophilic fungi cause superficial and chronic ringworm, while zoophilic trichophytons cause the development of infiltrative-suppurative forms of the disease.
Infection occurs:
Read also, symptoms of herpes zoster, as well as how to treat pink lichen.
Ringworm is characterized by the appearance of itchy ring-shaped spots of red and pink after a 3-4 day incubation period.
On the surface of these areas there are vesicles, leaving behind a crust and peeling. In the affected area, hair breaks and falls out. Initially, the pathogenic microorganism infects the hair follicle, later the destructive changes undergo the cornea of the hair, the voids between the cornified cells are forgotten by spores of the fungus, which eventually grows into the hair follicle.
Clinical symptoms depend on the form of the disease, the type of pathogen, and also on the state of human health. The following forms of ringworm can be distinguished.
Detailed photos of depriving a person.
On the head in the area of hair growth, ringworm manifests itself as circular foci of uneven shape, sharply separated from healthy skin, covered with otrigious scales of gray-white color.
On the periphery of such areas appear bubbles, pustules, crusts. There is a breakdown of the hair at a height of 2-3 mm from the skin. Hair can be plastered with a grayish coating consisting of fungus spores. Itching is absent, like other subjective sensations.
On smooth skin, the symptoms may be isolated or manifest in combination with a lesion of the scalp. In many cases, the disease is localized on the body, as well as on the skin of the face, neck and waist of the upper limbs. The appearance of pasty pink or red spots of classical round shape is characteristic, which scaly in the center. These areas are edged by a roller, where bubbles and crusts form. Gradually the hearth looks like a ring.
Develops in the adult population( more often in women), if not treated with a superficial form. It is characterized by minimal clinical signs and long development. Acute inflammation is absent, and peeling is insignificant.
On the head in the zone of hair growth, there are areas with black dots that are flush with the skin and are an indicator of the disease. This is the result of breaking off the hair due to fungal attack. Appear scaly foci with a bluish tint, in places you can observe atrophied skin with small scars.
On smooth skin, push hair is involved in the process. Foci without clear edges can be opened with plates. They are located mainly on the joints of the lower extremities, legs, buttocks, in rare cases - on the body and face. The course of the disease is sluggish, which is associated with reduced reactivity of the body. Often suffer nail plates. They easily crumble, break, become bumpy. The edge of the nail begins to exfoliate from the bed. Symptoms of the disease are similar to manifestations of chronic eczema.
The infiltrative-suppurative form of this pathology is provoked by zoophilic pathogens. The disease is characterized by the appearance of painful round knots that arise in the place of scaly foci in open areas of the body, in the area of hair growth on the head, and also near the beard and mustache. Inflammatory manifestations are very pronounced, often with the stage of suppuration.
Trichophytosis of the scalp is also called the follicular abscess. It is presented in the form of single foci of large sizes( up to 8 cm) under purulent crusts. Pus is secreted by trickles and abundant drops from each hair follicle. From the side, this phenomenon resembles honeycomb honeycombs. Hair loosens, easily removes and falls out. In the area of the beard and mustache, the foci are not so large, but multiple. Affected areas are painful when touched.
On smooth skin, the infiltrative-suppurative form of the disease is manifested by the formation of large plaques( up to 5 cm in diameter), which are clearly outlined, covered with plate scales, follicular pustules and crusts. After a few weeks the plaques usually disappear, leaving pigment spots on themselves.
With the course of the disease very often you can see an increase in lymph nodes, weakness, body temperature above normal and headache.
Suppositories of ringworm are prone to self-resolution, as the developing suppuration carries a death for the mycelium of fungi. Ultimately, there is a persistent immunity, the disease does not recur. The disease ends with the formation of a scar.
Fungus usually affects the fingers. The pathological process is observed in the presence of ringworm on smooth skin or the scalp and arises from scratching and touching the affected areas with hands. After penetrating the fungus, the nails become dull, uneven, longitudinal and transverse grooves appear.
Over time, under the nail plate, niches are formed, the nails crumble, jagged edges appear on the edges. This is a constant source of infection, since the course of the disease is prolonged, there are frequent relapses.
See also, treatment of nail fungus on the hands and feet.
Treatment of ringworm in humans is long, the full course of therapy is approximately 1.5-2 months, depending on the clinical form and features of the course of the disease.
The medicine of our time has developed a lot of medicines that allow to completely eliminate the fungus, so there is no special difficulty for medical intervention here.
Treatment methods for ringworm:
After finding the shearing agent, the deprivation of the sick person is sent to quarantine until complete recovery, and everyone who has contacted him is examined for infection. Talk about the cessation of the disease can only be after a triple negative result of the control diagnostic examination. Microscopy is carried out every 5-7 days.
The prognosis is favorable, but with the interruption of treatment, the disease can be transferred to a chronic form. If more than three foci are diagnosed and the process is extensive, then hospitalization is recommended.
Ringworm is a highly contagious disease that occurs in all corners of the globe and most often it affects children. With age, the risk of getting trichophytosis is significantly reduced, which is due to the production of fungicides by adults, which inhibit growth and augmentation of the fungus. These substances begin to be produced by the body during the pubertal period, and in many adolescents the disease regresses without any treatment.
Read also, pityriasis and multicolored lichen: symptoms and treatment in humans.
Preventive actions are:
Pathology has been known since ancient times, as described by Egyptian wall paintings, but the taxonomic classification of fungal species was introduced only in the 30s of the 19th century, and the invention of the drug had to wait another hundred years.
The disease at that time was inherent exclusively in the poorest miles of people living in slums.
Causes of Ringworm
The causative agent of ringworm - fungus Trichophyton tonsurans was discovered more than 100 years ago. He received his name for his propensity to defeat hair.
Anthropophilic fungi cause superficial and chronic ringworm, while zoophilic trichophytons cause the development of infiltrative-suppurative forms of the disease.
Infection occurs:
- when touched to a sick person;
- through household items( hairbrush, towel, linen);
- while working with hay, on which there is wool of infected rodents;
- through the soil, but the controversy here persists for about three months;
- in contact with animals( cattle, cats, dogs).
- decreased immunity;
- repeated communication with a sick person;
- violation of personal hygiene rules;
- long-term care for animals( veterinary clinics, farms);
- skin damage;
- insufficient intake of vitamin A in the body;
- chronic diseases.
Read also, symptoms of herpes zoster, as well as how to treat pink lichen.
Symptoms of ringworm
Ringworm is characterized by the appearance of itchy ring-shaped spots of red and pink after a 3-4 day incubation period.
On the surface of these areas there are vesicles, leaving behind a crust and peeling. In the affected area, hair breaks and falls out. Initially, the pathogenic microorganism infects the hair follicle, later the destructive changes undergo the cornea of the hair, the voids between the cornified cells are forgotten by spores of the fungus, which eventually grows into the hair follicle.
Clinical symptoms depend on the form of the disease, the type of pathogen, and also on the state of human health. The following forms of ringworm can be distinguished.
Detailed photos of depriving a person.
Surface ringworm
On the head in the area of hair growth, ringworm manifests itself as circular foci of uneven shape, sharply separated from healthy skin, covered with otrigious scales of gray-white color.
On the periphery of such areas appear bubbles, pustules, crusts. There is a breakdown of the hair at a height of 2-3 mm from the skin. Hair can be plastered with a grayish coating consisting of fungus spores. Itching is absent, like other subjective sensations.
On smooth skin, the symptoms may be isolated or manifest in combination with a lesion of the scalp. In many cases, the disease is localized on the body, as well as on the skin of the face, neck and waist of the upper limbs. The appearance of pasty pink or red spots of classical round shape is characteristic, which scaly in the center. These areas are edged by a roller, where bubbles and crusts form. Gradually the hearth looks like a ring.
Chronic ringworm
Develops in the adult population( more often in women), if not treated with a superficial form. It is characterized by minimal clinical signs and long development. Acute inflammation is absent, and peeling is insignificant.
On the head in the zone of hair growth, there are areas with black dots that are flush with the skin and are an indicator of the disease. This is the result of breaking off the hair due to fungal attack. Appear scaly foci with a bluish tint, in places you can observe atrophied skin with small scars.
On smooth skin, push hair is involved in the process. Foci without clear edges can be opened with plates. They are located mainly on the joints of the lower extremities, legs, buttocks, in rare cases - on the body and face. The course of the disease is sluggish, which is associated with reduced reactivity of the body. Often suffer nail plates. They easily crumble, break, become bumpy. The edge of the nail begins to exfoliate from the bed. Symptoms of the disease are similar to manifestations of chronic eczema.
Infiltrative-suppuration form of ringworm
The infiltrative-suppurative form of this pathology is provoked by zoophilic pathogens. The disease is characterized by the appearance of painful round knots that arise in the place of scaly foci in open areas of the body, in the area of hair growth on the head, and also near the beard and mustache. Inflammatory manifestations are very pronounced, often with the stage of suppuration.
Trichophytosis of the scalp is also called the follicular abscess. It is presented in the form of single foci of large sizes( up to 8 cm) under purulent crusts. Pus is secreted by trickles and abundant drops from each hair follicle. From the side, this phenomenon resembles honeycomb honeycombs. Hair loosens, easily removes and falls out. In the area of the beard and mustache, the foci are not so large, but multiple. Affected areas are painful when touched.
On smooth skin, the infiltrative-suppurative form of the disease is manifested by the formation of large plaques( up to 5 cm in diameter), which are clearly outlined, covered with plate scales, follicular pustules and crusts. After a few weeks the plaques usually disappear, leaving pigment spots on themselves.
With the course of the disease very often you can see an increase in lymph nodes, weakness, body temperature above normal and headache.
Suppositories of ringworm are prone to self-resolution, as the developing suppuration carries a death for the mycelium of fungi. Ultimately, there is a persistent immunity, the disease does not recur. The disease ends with the formation of a scar.
Ringworm
Fungus usually affects the fingers. The pathological process is observed in the presence of ringworm on smooth skin or the scalp and arises from scratching and touching the affected areas with hands. After penetrating the fungus, the nails become dull, uneven, longitudinal and transverse grooves appear.
Over time, under the nail plate, niches are formed, the nails crumble, jagged edges appear on the edges. This is a constant source of infection, since the course of the disease is prolonged, there are frequent relapses.
See also, treatment of nail fungus on the hands and feet.
Treatment of ringworm
Treatment of ringworm in humans is long, the full course of therapy is approximately 1.5-2 months, depending on the clinical form and features of the course of the disease.
The medicine of our time has developed a lot of medicines that allow to completely eliminate the fungus, so there is no special difficulty for medical intervention here.
Treatment methods for ringworm:
- 1) Oral administration of antifungal agents( lamizil, griseofulvin);
- 2) Antibiotic therapy( if necessary irunine, itrazil);
- 3) Local treatment( salicylic acid, mycosolone, Wilson's ointment, sulfur-tar ointment, alcohol solution of iodine, combined hormone-containing drugs);
- 4) Rehabilitation of affected hair;
- 5) Increased immunity( vitamins, nutrition).
After finding the shearing agent, the deprivation of the sick person is sent to quarantine until complete recovery, and everyone who has contacted him is examined for infection. Talk about the cessation of the disease can only be after a triple negative result of the control diagnostic examination. Microscopy is carried out every 5-7 days.
The prognosis is favorable, but with the interruption of treatment, the disease can be transferred to a chronic form. If more than three foci are diagnosed and the process is extensive, then hospitalization is recommended.
Ringworm is a highly contagious disease that occurs in all corners of the globe and most often it affects children. With age, the risk of getting trichophytosis is significantly reduced, which is due to the production of fungicides by adults, which inhibit growth and augmentation of the fungus. These substances begin to be produced by the body during the pubertal period, and in many adolescents the disease regresses without any treatment.
Read also, pityriasis and multicolored lichen: symptoms and treatment in humans.
Prevention
Preventive actions are:
- in the timely detection of foci of the disease;
- isolation of infected individuals;
- disinfection of personal belongings;
- in the systematic examination of children in institutions;
- in avoiding contact with homeless animals;
- observance of personal hygiene rules;
- in the reception of vitamin complexes in the autumn-winter period;
- detection and treatment of sick animals;
- in the regular sanitary cleaning of premises with chlorine-containing disinfectants.