Dermatophytosis

Dermatophytosis is a group of mycosis infections of the skin caused by parasitic fungi (dermatophytes).

Presentations

Infections on the body may give rise to typical enlarging raised red rings of ringworm, infection on the skin of the feet may cause athlete's foot and in the groin jock itch. Involvement of the nails is termed onychomycosis, and they may thicken, discolour, and finally crumble and fall off.

They are common in most adult people, with up to 20 percent of the population having one of these infections at any given moment.

Dermatophytosis tends to get worse during summer, with symptoms alleviating during the winter. Animals such as dogs and cats can also be affected by ring worm and the disease can be transmitted between animals and humans(zoonotic disease).

Types

A number of different species of fungi are involved. Dermatophytes of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum are the most common causative agents. These fungi attack various parts of the body and lead to the following conditions:

• Dermatophytosis
• Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) affects the feet
• Tinea unguium affects the fingernails and toenails
• Tinea corporis affects the arms, legs, and trunk with ringworm
• Tinea cruris (jock itch) affects the groin area
• Tinea manuum affects the hands and palm area
• Tinea capitis affects the scalp
• Tinea barbae affects facial hair
• Tinea faciei (face fungus) affects the face
• Other superficial mycoses
• Tinea versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur
• Tinea nigra caused by Hortaea werneckii