9/10/2015

Tineacorporis.DermNetNZ

DermNetNZ
FactsabouttheskinfromDermNetNewZealandTrust.

SelectLanguage

Poweredby

Translate

Tineacorporis
Tineacorporis(ringworm)isthenameusedforinfectionofthetrunk,legsorarmswithadermatophytefungus.
Indifferentpartsoftheworld,differentspeciescausetineacorporis.InNewZealand,Trichophytonrubrum(T.rubrum)isthemost
commoncause.Infectionoftencomesfromthefeet(tineapedis)ornails(tineaunguium)originally.Microsporumcanis(M.canis)from
catsanddogs,andT.verrucosum,fromfarmcattle,arealsocommon.

Tineacorporis

Microsporumcanis

Trichophytonrubrum

Trichophytonrubrum

TreatedTrichophyton
verrucosuminfection
haslefttemporarypalemarks

Trichophytonrubrum

Microsporumcanis

Moretineacorporisimages

Clinicalfeaturesoftineacorporis
Tineacorporismaybeacute(suddenonsetandrapidspread)orchronic(slowextensionofamild,barelyinflamed,rash).Itusuallyaffects
exposedareasbutmayalsospreadfromotherinfectedsites.
Acutetineacorporispresentsasitchyinflamedredpatchesandmaybepustular.Thecauseisofteninfectionbyananimal(zoophilic)
fungussuchasMcanis.
Chronictineacorporistendstobemostprominentinbodyfolds(spreadingfromtineacruris).T.rubrumisthemostcommoncause.If
widespread,theconditiontendstobestubborntotreatandpronetorecurrence.Thisispossiblyduetoadecreasednaturalskin
resistancetofungiorbecauseofreinfectionfromtheenvironment.
Theterm"ringworm"referstoroundorovalredscalypatches,oftenlessredandscalyinthemiddleorhealedinthemiddle.Sometimes
oneringarisesinsideanotherolderring.
Kerionisaninflamedfungalabscess.Itpresentsasaboggymassstudiedwithpustules,oftenwithsatellitespots.Itisoftenconfused
withalargeboilorcarbuncleoratumoursuchasaskincancer.
Majocchigranulomadescribestineacorporisinvolvingthehairfolliclesresultinginpustulesandnodules.
TineaimbricataisduetoT.concentricumandoccursinthePacificIslandsandothertropicalareas.Itresultsinbrownscalyconcentric
rings.

http://dermnetnz.org/fungal/tineacorporis.html

1/2

9/10/2015

Tineacorporis.DermNetNZ

Nonfungalconditionsresemblingtineacorporisinclude:
Impetigo
Seborrhoeicdermatitis
Psoriasis
Discoideczema
Lichensimplex
Contactallergicdermatitis
Pityriasisrosea

Diagnosisoftineacorporis
Thediagnosisoftineacorporisisconfirmedbymicroscopyandcultureofskinscrapings.
Occasionally,thediagnosisismadeonskinbiopsybecauseofcharacteristichistopathologicalfeaturesoftineacorporisandorganismsmay
befoundintheoutsidelayersoftheskin.

Treatmentoftineacorporis
Tineacorporisisusuallytreatedwithtopicalantifungalagents,butifthetreatmentisunsuccessful,oralantifungalmedicinesmaybe
considered,includingterbinafineanditraconazole.
Relatedinformation
OnDermNetNZ:
Tineacorporispathology
Tinea
Introductiontofungalinfections
Laboratorytestsforfungalinfections
Treatmentoffungalinfections
Moretineacorporisimages

Otherwebsites:
TineacorporisMedscapeReference
RingwormonBodyemedicinehealth
Patientinformation:Ringworm,athletesfoot,andjockitch(TheBasics)UpToDate(forsubscribers)
Patientinformation:Ringworm(includingathlete'sfootandjockitch)(BeyondtheBasics)UpToDate(forsubscribers)

Books:
SeetheDermNetNZbookstore

DermNetNZdoesnotprovideanonlineconsultationservice.
Ifyouhaveanyconcernswithyourskinoritstreatment,seeadermatologistforadvice.
Created2003.Lastmodified13Dec2014.2015DermNetNewZealandTrust.Youmaycopyforpersonaluseonly.Seedisclaimerandcopyright
policy.

http://dermnetnz.org/fungal/tineacorporis.html

2/2