DERMATOPHYTOSES

• Dermatophytoses/ cutaneous mycoses are diseases of skin, hair &

nails.
• They are generally called Ringworm infections and Tinea.
• They are caused by group of fungi called Dermatophytes , which
infect only superficial keratinised structures.
• Dermatophytes include 3 genera-
• Trichophyton- infection of skin, hair, nails.
• Microsporum- infection of skin and hair.
• Epidermophyton- infection on skin & nails.
 Deramatophytoses classification:-
• Tinea capitis
• Tinea corporis
• Tinea facei
• Tinea pedis
• Tinea manuum
• Tinea vesicolor
 Tinea capitis
• It involves shaft of scalp hairs
• The infected hairs appear dull & grey
• The base of hair shaft as well as hair follicle is involved
• There is breakage of hair at follicular orifice which creates patches
of alopecia with black dots of broken hair
Tinea capitis
 Tinea corporis:-
• This is disease of non-hairy skin of the body & may result from
extension of infection from scalp, groin, beard
• It is charecterised by erythematous scaly lesions,annular, sharply
marginated plaques with raised borders which may be single,
multiple or confluent
Tinea corporis
 Tinea pedis:-
• This is the infection of plantar aspect of the foot, toes & interdigital web
spaces
• commonly called Athlete's Foot
• Is common in individuals wearing shoes for long hours
• In toe webs, scaling, fissuring, maceration & erythema is seen associated
with itching/ burning sensation
• Due to maceration and peeling, cracks appear which are prone to
secondary bacterial infections
• When infection becomes chronic, sole becomes hyperkeratotic and
covered with fine scales
Tinea pedis
 Tinea Faciei:-

Dermatophytic infection of skin that affects non-bearded region of face

Tinea Manuum:-
• Dermatophyte infection of skin of palmer aspect of hand
• Hyperkeratosis of palms and fingers is seen
Laboratory diagnosis:-
• Specimens:- Scraping of skin and nails as well as short lengths of hair
plucked from scalp. Scraping are taken from edges of ringworm
lesions
• KOH wetmount (microscopy):- Branching hyaline septate (non-
pigmented) hyphae is considered positive for fungi; spores may also
be seen
• Wood's lamp:- In suspected Tinea capitis, plucked hair is examined
by using wood's lamp. Infected hair will be fluroscent(yellow green)
• Culture:- Species identification is possible by use of Sabouraud's
dextrose agar
 Treatment:-
• Commonly used drugs include
• Topical preparations- Miconazole, Clotimazole, Econazole,
Terbinafine
• Oral preparations- Griseofulvin, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole,
Terbinafine