Ringworm (Tinea Corporis) - Causes And Symptoms
The name ringworm often has many people confused, leading them to believe that it is a parasitic infection from a worm. However, ringworm really has nothing to do with worms and other parasites, except that the inflammation that occurs is ring shaped, and can, to some eyes, appear reminiscent of a worm. The real cause of ringworm is a fungus, which is also really a parasite, although in colloquial language it is not really thought of as such.
The classic symptom of ringworm is the one described – the circular rash that appears. Typically, the rash forms a ring – a ring of skin becomes inflamed and slightly raised, while the skin around it and in the center of the ring is normal and healthy. In some cases, several, concentric rings may appear, one inside the other. In a few cases, the rash may be circular, but not really in the shape of a ring – there may simple be a circular patch of skin that becomes inflamed and raised. Note that several inflamed patches of skin and rings may appear, and these inflamed areas may overlap each other, due to which the shape may not always be completely recognizable.
Although the circular shape of the ringworm rash is most typical and recognizable, it does not always appear, and is therefore not a 100 per cent reliable symptom. Sometimes, the same fungus that causes ringworm may cause a regular, uneven rash. Also, if ringworm is diagnosed wrongly and treated symptomatically, the rash (circular or otherwise) will disappear, but the infection will still continue. Once treatment stops however, the rash will return. It is therefore important to diagnose the rash properly, so that the correct treatment is applied.
The fungus that causes ringworm also causes many other rashes, and although these are all essentially the same infection and can be called ringworm, many of them go by other names. For example, when this fungus attacks the skin of the feet, it does not usually cause the red rings to appear, and is known more commonly as athlete’s foot. What is known as jock itch is also basically ringworm, only the name is different. The medical name is therefore much more accurate – tinea. All skin infections caused by this fungus are known as tinea, but when there is a need to specify the location of the infection, more specific names can be used. Thus athlete’s foot is known as tinea pedis, jock’s itch is known as tinea cruris, and ringworm on most other parts of the body, involving the circular rash, are known as tinea corporis.
The classic symptom of ringworm is the one described – the circular rash that appears. Typically, the rash forms a ring – a ring of skin becomes inflamed and slightly raised, while the skin around it and in the center of the ring is normal and healthy. In some cases, several, concentric rings may appear, one inside the other. In a few cases, the rash may be circular, but not really in the shape of a ring – there may simple be a circular patch of skin that becomes inflamed and raised. Note that several inflamed patches of skin and rings may appear, and these inflamed areas may overlap each other, due to which the shape may not always be completely recognizable.
Although the circular shape of the ringworm rash is most typical and recognizable, it does not always appear, and is therefore not a 100 per cent reliable symptom. Sometimes, the same fungus that causes ringworm may cause a regular, uneven rash. Also, if ringworm is diagnosed wrongly and treated symptomatically, the rash (circular or otherwise) will disappear, but the infection will still continue. Once treatment stops however, the rash will return. It is therefore important to diagnose the rash properly, so that the correct treatment is applied.
The fungus that causes ringworm also causes many other rashes, and although these are all essentially the same infection and can be called ringworm, many of them go by other names. For example, when this fungus attacks the skin of the feet, it does not usually cause the red rings to appear, and is known more commonly as athlete’s foot. What is known as jock itch is also basically ringworm, only the name is different. The medical name is therefore much more accurate – tinea. All skin infections caused by this fungus are known as tinea, but when there is a need to specify the location of the infection, more specific names can be used. Thus athlete’s foot is known as tinea pedis, jock’s itch is known as tinea cruris, and ringworm on most other parts of the body, involving the circular rash, are known as tinea corporis.