Perihal Penyakit disebabkan KULAT- FUNGUS - kurap..panau

Perihal Penyakit disebabkan KULAT- FUNGUS - kurap..panau

Ringworm

Ringworm is a skin infection due to a fungus. Often, there are several patches of ringworm on your skin at once.

Causes

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.
Many bacteria and fungi live on your body. Some of these are useful, while others can cause infections. Ringworm occurs when a type of fungus called tinea grows and multiplies on your skin.
Ringworm can affect the skin on your:

• Beard -- tinea barbae
• Body -- tinea corporis
• Feet -- tinea pedis (also called athlete's foot)
• Groin area -- tinea cruris (also called jock itch)
• Scalp -- tinea capitis

Ringworm can spread easily from one person to another. You can catch ringworm if you touch someone who has the infection, or if you come into contact with items contaminated by the fungus, such as combs, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. You can 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 you are often wet (such as from sweating) and from minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails.

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 your hair, you will have bald patches.
If ringworm affects your nails, they will become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

Exams and Tests

Most of the time, your health care provider can diagnose ringworm by looking at your skin. The fungus may glow when your skin is examined with a blue light (called a Wood's lamp) in a dark room.
Tests to confirm the diagnosis may include:

• KOH exam
• Skin biopsy
• Skin culture

Treatment

To care for ringworm:

• Keep your skin clean and dry.
• Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, lotions, or creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar ingredients.
• Do not wear clothing that rubs against and irritates the area.
• Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while you are infected.

Your health care provider may prescribe pills to treat the fungus if you have:

• A severe case of ringworm
• Ringworm that keeps coming back or that lasts for a long time
• Ringworm in your hair

You may need medicines such as ketoconazole, which are stronger than over-the-counter products. You may also need antibiotics to treat skin infections from strep or staph that are caused by scratching the area.
Infected pets also should be treated.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Skin medicine usually treats ringworm within 4 weeks. If your ringworm infection is severe or it does not respond well to self-care, it will usually respond quickly to antifungal pills.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a bacterial infection, which can result from scratching. These signs include swelling, warm skin, sudden worsening in redness of the patches, red streaking, pus, drainage, and fever.
Call your doctor if:

• You have ringworm on your scalp or beard
• Your skin does not improve after 4 weeks of self-care
• The rash spreads and you have diabetes or a weakened immune system due to disease or certain medications

Prevention

To prevent ringworm:

• Keep your skin and feet clean and dry.
• 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.

Alternative Names

 

What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a very infectious and common skin infection causing a ring shaped red rash.

Ringworm is most common among children, but can affect people of any age.

Picture of ringworm: Image copyright © Pulse Picture Library/CMP Images / Phototake -- All rights reserved.

Ringworm isn't caused by worms. The skin infection, also known as tinea, is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. Fungi are microscopic organisms that can live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair, and nails, much like a mushroom can grow on the bark of a tree.

What causes ringworm?

Ringworm is caused by a fungus that grows on the skin. Once the fungus is established, it spreads out in rings. The centre of the ring may clear up, while a new ring of infection develops at the edge of the old ring.
Children are most likely to get ringworm. Ringworm of the scalp can spread from child to child when children share hats, combs, or brushes. Ringworm of the body can be spread on towels, clothing, or sports equipment. Personal hygiene is important in preventing the spread of ringworm. Dogs and cats can also be infected with ringworm, and they can pass it to people through direct contact.

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

Ringworm of the scalp:

• Dry, brittle hair or hair loss in patches
• Severe itching
• Red-ringed patch of small blisters or scaly skin

Ringworm of the body:

• Red-ringed patch of small blisters or scaly skin
• Severe itching is sometimes present

Consult your practice nurse or doctor if you have a red-ringed skin infection, severe itching of the skin or scalp, a scaly rash or hair loss.

How do I know if I have ringworm?

Your doctor will probably recognise the characteristic rash of ringworm. However, he or she may also:

• Look at the infection with a special ultraviolet light that can detect traces of fluorescent materials that occur in a ringworm infection.
• Scrape an area of affected skin and look at the sample under the microscope.
• Take a sample of skin scrapings for culture, to find out which fungus is causing the infection in order to select the most effective antifungal medicine.

What are the treatments for ringworm?

Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication. These drugs work to kill fungi and prevent the condition from coming back. You may use the antifungal agent on your skin as a medicated shampoo, powder, cream or lotion; or you may be given a tablet so the medicine can spread throughout your body. You may be recommended a combination of these treatments.

How can I prevent ringworm?

Good personal hygiene helps prevent the spread of ringworm. Teach your child to practise good hygiene and generally not to share combs, brushes, or hats. Children also shouldn't share towels, clothes, or sports equipment that haven't been properly cleaned.

Ringworm can also be transmitted from an infected dog or cat, so avoid animals who look mangy or have bald spots in their coats. If you have an animal that you think may have ringworm, take it to the vet for treatment.

Further reading:

• Slideshow: Ringworm pictures and treatments
• Slideshow: What your skin says about your health
• Skin conditions pictures quiz
• Itching - Causes of itching
• Itching - Treating itching
• Itching - Introduction
• Jock itch treatment