This is the first line of defence and is provided by mechanisms that form an immediate natural barrier to infections like tinea. The immune system is responsible for defending the body against foreign invaders and functions by means of two mechanisms: They invade the inner tissues of the skin and utilise keratin which stimulates the body’s defence system to start an immune response to get rid of invaders. These are the causative agents of ringworm. Dermatophytes, a group of closely-related fungi, are divided into three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Cases of infected people have been reported all over the world but are more prevalent in areas where there are poor hygienic standards. The tinea fungus is transmitted by direct person-to-person contact, by sharing items such as combs, brushes, hats and pillows with infected persons or by touching contaminated surfaces (Piιrard et al., 1996 Bronson et al., 1983 Hay et al., 1996). Fungal infections are now growing at a rapid rate which is probably due to an increase in the number of immune-compromised patients (Detandt and Nolard, 1995). In humans, it is mostly young children who are infected. ‘Ringworm’ is an historic term which was given by early scientists as they considered the causative agents to be worms and because of the characteristic ring-shaped lesions formed on affected skin or scalps.įungi are eukaryotic, free-living or parasitic micro-organisms that mostly require a weakness in the body’s immune system to establish a disease thus virtually every fungal infection is opportunistic. Ringworm, or tinea, is a fungal disease that affects the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin of humans and animals.
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