SYN: tinea.
- r. of beard SYN: tinea barbae.
- black-dot r. tinea capitis due most commonly to Trichophyton tonsurans or T. violaceum.
- r. of body SYN: tinea corporis.
- crusted r. SYN: favus.
- r. of foot SYN: tinea pedis.
- honeycomb r. SYN: favus.
- r. of nails SYN: onychomycosis.
- Oriental r. SYN: tinea imbricata.
- r. of scalp SYN: tinea capitis.
- scaly r. SYN: tinea imbricata.
- Tokelau r. SYN: tinea imbricata. [Tokelau Islands in S. Pacific Ocean]
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ring·worm 'riŋ-.wərm n any of several contagious diseases of the skin, hair, or nails of humans and domestic animals caused by fungi (as of the genus Trichophyton) and characterized by ring-shaped discolored patches on the skin that are covered with vesicles and scales called also tinea
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n.
a fungus infection of the skin, the scalp, or the nails. Ringworm is caused by the dermatophyte fungi - species of Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton - and also affects animals, a source of infection for humans. It can be spread by direct contact or via infected materials. The lesions of ringworm may form partial or complete rings and may cause intense itching. The commonest form of ringworm is athlete's foot (tinea pedis), which affects the skin between the toes. Another common type is ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis), of which there is a severe form - favus. Ringworm also affects the groin and thighs (tinea cruris: see dhobie itch) and the skin under a beard (tinea barbae). The disease is treated with antifungal agents taken by mouth (such as itraconazole or terbinafine) or applied locally (there is now a wide choice of topical agents).
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ring·worm (ringґwərm) popular name for tinea (in humans) or dermatophytosis (in other animals); so called because of the ring-shaped configuration of the lesions.Medical dictionary. 2011.