What Are Dermatophytes?

It mainly refers to keratin-promoting dermatophytes, mainly including Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton, which invade human and animal skin, hair, and deck. The infections caused are collectively called dermatophytosis, referred to as ringworm . Dermatophytosis is still named according to the site of the disease, such as tinea capitis, tinea corporis, jock itch, tinea pedis, tinea pedis, etc. Frequent in summer, rare in winter.

Basic Information

nickname

Ringworm

Visiting department

dermatology

Common locations

Skin, hair, deck

Common causes

Dermatophytes

Common symptoms

Skin lesions are erythema, blisters, scaly and thickened keratoses with itching

Causes of dermatophytosis

The main pathogen of this disease is dermatophyte, which mainly includes Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Its common feature is keratin, which invades the skin, hair and deck of humans and animals, causing infection. The fungus that infects humans mainly comes from the external environment, and the infection can be through contact, inhalation or ingestion.

Clinical manifestations of dermatophytosis

Tinea capitis

Disease caused by fungal infection of scalp hair. Involves more children, rare adults. According to the different treatment, it can be divided into four types, namely yellow ringworm, white ringworm, black ringworm and psoriasis.

Ringworm

Superficial skin fungal infections caused by pathogenic fungi parasitizing the smooth skin of the human body (skins other than hands, feet, hair, deck, and femoral area). It is mainly seen in young adults and men, and usually occurs in summer. Occurs on the face, trunk, and proximal extremities. Causes a very mild inflammatory response, with erythema, pimples, blisters and other damage, followed by desquamation. Often presented in a ring shape, so commonly known as ringworm or ringworm.

3. Ringworm

Dermatophyte infection on the palm. Men, women, and children can be infected, more common in adults. It begins in a certain part of the palm and slowly expands, eventually involving most or all of the palms. The damage was erythema, blisters, scaly and thickened keratosis.

4. Athlete's foot

Dermatophyte infections on the feet. More common in adults, rare in children. Seasonal onset is obvious, severe illness in summer and autumn, and reduced disease in winter and spring. Athlete's foot is characterized by subcutaneous blisters, impregnation between the toes, seepage and nourishing water, hyperkeratosis, and desquamation. Clinically, it can be divided into hyperkeratosis type, papular scale type, blister type, interdigital erosion type, and ringworm type.

5. Tinea versicolor

Commonly known as sweat spots. Often occur in sweaty young adults. Occurs in the neck, scapula, chest and back, especially in sweaty areas and near heart end. Skin lesions are round or irregular non-inflammatory plaques of various sizes and clear borders, which are light brown, gray brown to dark brown, or mildly hypopigmented, and may have a small amount of bran-like fine scales, often fused into pieces It may have a slight itching sensation, and it may become more winter in summer.

6. Onychomycosis

Dermatophytes cause diseases caused by invasion of the deck or under the nails. The nail bed is slightly itchy at first, followed by the discoloration of the nails, the unevenness of the deck, loss of gloss, gradually thickening, or emptying and incompleteness or brittleness, often separated from the nail bed. Generally without symptoms, a few have mild itching.

Dermatophytosis

Fungal microscopy and culture.

Dermatophytosis diagnosis

According to clinical manifestations, skin lesion morphology and location, combined with laboratory examination of fungi, a clear diagnosis can be made.

Differential diagnosis of dermatophytosis

Neurodermatitis

Significant lichenification, no blisters, and negative molds.

Eczema

The edge without levee bulge, the realm is unclear, and the mold test is negative.

Dermatophytosis Treatment

Patients should be detected and treated early to avoid exposure to infection.

Local treatment

According to different clinical types, different antifungal drugs such as bibenzolazole cream, ketoconazole cream, terbinafine cream and so on are selected. Other drugs such as compound salicylic acid tincture, compound resorcinol coating and so on. Tinea capitis hair removal, onychomycosis, etc.

2. Systemic treatment

Itraconazole, terbinafine, etc., combined with topical drugs can increase the efficacy.