Tinea Corporis: Risk Factors and New Methods to Cure

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
The WHO and Tinea Corporis
The CDC and Tinea Corporis
Summary of the Research
Conclusion
References

Abstract

The spread of tinea corporis worldwide is conditional upon a significant number of people and animals at risk. However, this disease is usually considered by researchers in a combination of other tinea types. This situation leads to the necessity to analyze the available information specifically on this health issue since generalization does not apply to the case. Even though such worldwide organizations as the WHO and the CDC present extensive data on the matter, they tend to neglect newly emerging circumstances. They include the appearance of a greater number of risk factors and the lack of up-to-date guidance on the treatment of tinea corporis. This fact also hinders the progress of scholars aiming at developing new methods to cure the disease. Hence, this paper presents the status of knowledge on the subject.

Introduction

The condition known as tinea corporis is a skin infection caused by a fungus frequently referred to as a ringworm. In most studies, it is considered together with other similar diseases, such as tinea cruris or tinea pedis (Sahoo & Mahajan, 2016). However, despite a row of similarities, they differ both in location and in symptoms, treatment methods, and complications resulting from the possibility of resistance and improper practices (Suleri, 2020). It leads to the necessity to consider the development of tinea corporis about its specificities mentioned above to provide a clear picture of this diagnosis’ prospects for a successful cure. For this purpose, the current paper focuses on the information available on the websites of WHO and CDC and analyzes other studies intended to enhance the understanding of the issue.

The WHO and Tinea Corporis

The first source for the analysis is the World Health Organization, and its data on the subject is limited to the provision of general facts instead of orienting on this particular health problem. Hence, tinea corporis is not explicitly emphasized as a separate topic but included in the section on water-related diseases instead (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). This website page describes it as a mild condition of skin emerging due to the infection with fungi known as dermatophytes (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). It only mentions various types of this issue without any specifications regarding their treatment or outcomes.

The presented information on tinea corporis is complemented by the description of risk factors and preventive measures. The former include contact with infected animals and people as well as items contaminated with the fungi such as clothes or towels (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). The latter, in turn, highlights the effectiveness of personal hygiene and sufficient water consumption for disease prevention (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). As for the symptoms of tinea corporis, they include the emergence of pink or red patches on a patient’s skin and can be either flat or slightly raised, dry or moist (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). Nevertheless, these data are insufficient in terms of gaining a full understanding of the problem.

The information given above is complemented by the scope of the problem and possible interventions. Thus, tinea corporis is more frequent in men rather than in women or children, and hot weather is added to the main risk factors in this case (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). This problem is common for all countries of the world, especially for the ones that are known for poor hygiene (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). As for the treatment, the organization’s experts suggest using topical antifungal creams and oral antifungal medication in severe cases (“Water-related diseases,” n.d.). In general, the data published on the website seems to be comprehensive, but it lacks specificity regarding tinea corporis.

The CDC and Tinea Corporis

Another credible source of information on the subject is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is more detailed than the WHO’s section devoted to this condition. It contains separate pages for patients and healthcare professionals, which add to its usefulness for any person interested in the matter. The data division is defined by the need for the former to understand the problem, its effect on both people and pets, and learn about the proposed preventive measures. The latter’s orientation on practices of diagnosis and treatment is, in turn, addressed by the organization’s specialists.

The website page for patients consists of the description of the category of citizens at risk of infection, its prevention, and suggested actions in the case if there is a suspicion of tinea corporis. Hence, people with weakened immune systems with pets and athletes using public showers are more likely to suffer from this disease (“Ringworm risk and prevention,” n.d.). Their principal actions should be focused on personal hygiene, especially after playing with pets or workouts (“Ringworm risk and prevention,” n.d.). As for the cases when people suspect their dogs or cats of having ringworm, visiting a veterinarian together with safety measures is a must (“Ringworm risk and prevention,” n.d.). In this way, the data published on the CDC website contains more practical actions than the WHO’s page.

What is more important, this source, in contrast to the previously analyzed information of the WHO, provides recommendations for healthcare professionals. First, it includes the diagnosis procedure including physical examination, microscopy, ultraviolet light, and fungal culture (“Ringworm information for healthcare professionals,” n.d.). Such a variety of methods is explained by the existence of different types of fungi that might be undetectable through some of them. Second, this page gives guidance in the treatment of all kinds of diseases. According to it, tinea corporis can be cured with the help of antifungal products and systematic therapy in the case of recurrent conditions (“Ringworm information for healthcare professionals,” n.d.). Thus, the CDC covers more practical issues related to this disease than the WHO.

Summary of the Research

The analysis of data published on the websites of the two aforementioned organizations confirmed their usefulness for citizens and healthcare professionals. However, the reliability of this information is a temporary phenomenon since fungi causing tinea corporis tend to evolve and cause greater health problems (Suleri, 2020). Therefore, to provide a clear picture of the disease’s progress, it is critical to review the available literature to date. It will help consider their findings in terms of the correspondence to the current state of this infection and propose further research objectives.

The principal theme discussed in the scholarly sources oriented on tinea corporis is its evaluation, diagnosis, and possible treatment options. In other words, such studies are focused on the practical implementation of information about the disease by physicians for the benefit of their patients. As follows from the review conducted by Leung et al. (2020), there are three types of dermatophytes causing this condition: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Moreover, their nature depends on the source, whether they are transmitted by humans or animals, and they can mimic other annular lesions (Leung et al., 2020). By saying this, the authors emphasize the necessity for specialists to properly diagnose each case, depending on the type of dermatophytes that caused the problem and other factors.

The article also provides the available treatment methods and suggests the possibility of particular complications for patients with tinea corporis. Thus, doctors should take non-pharmacologic measures combined with pharmacotherapy to ensure a positive outcome. The former includes wearing light and loose-fitting clothes and keeping skin dry and clean (Leung et al., 2020). The latter, in turn, proposes topical antifungals such as azoles, allylamines, benzylamine, ciclopirox, and tolnaftate, and this recommendation proves the credibility of the data published by the CDC and the WHO (Leung et al., 2020). As for known complications, they imply the psychological, social, and occupational influence on health, hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation, dermatophytid reaction, secondary bacterial superinfection, and other skin problems (Leung et al., 2020). Hence, the information provided in the review successfully complements the data from the analysis conducted above.

The suggestions given in the article and the websites were also confirmed by the study on the management of different types of this disease. Sahoo and Mahajan (2016) claim that they are essential in order to avoid chronicity and propose the use of such new techniques as a polymerase chain reaction and mass spectroscopy for diagnostics. In contrast to various measures described by the CDC, they proved to be more efficient in identifying different dermatophyte strains (Sahoo & Mahajan, 2016). As for the treatment of tinea corporis, the scholars also highlight the effectiveness of topical antifungals in the case of limited disease and oral therapy for more complicated situations (Sahoo & Mahajan, 2016). Therefore, it can be concluded that the described methods at different stages of the condition development are efficient.

However, they are still believed to be insufficient in the long run, and this fact makes researchers focus on discovering new treatment techniques. Thus, one of the latest suggestions is the use of Pyocyanin, and it is explained by the impact it has on Trichophyton rubrum, the principal causal agent in the case of tinea corporis (El-Zawawy & Ali, 2016). In this way, the scholars propose to pay particular attention to the condition’s variations instead of using a generalized approach.

These initiatives regarding the intention to improve the outcomes of this disease are conditional upon the emergence of circumstances worsening the situation. They are primarily related to the increase in pathogen and host factors around the world (Suleri, 2020). They result in remissions of the health issue and suggest either the infection resistance or non-compliance of methods with the disease specificity (Suleri, 2020). The situation is complicated by the fact that the guidelines of the American Academy of Dermatology are not being revised regularly (Suleri, 2020). Therefore, the problem of tinea corporis is not being adequately addressed and requires further consideration.

Conclusion

By and large, the condition known as tinea corporis is an example of a disease that cannot be efficiently cured with the help of already known traditional methods. The widely used topical antifungals, in combination with oral therapy, demonstrate only temporary results and increase the possibility of remissions. The present-day researchers aim at addressing this problem by proposing such innovative techniques as Pyocyanin treatment. However, their actions are insufficient for eliminating the issue since the support of both national and world organizations is required.

References

El-Zawawy, N. A., & Ali, S. S. (2016). Pyocyanin as anti-tyrosinase and anti tinea corporis: A novel treatment study. Microbial Pathogenesis, 100, 213-220. Web.

Leung, A. K., Lam, J. M., Leong, K. F., & Hon, K. L. (2020). Tinea corporis: An updated review. Drugs in Context, 9. Web.

Ringworm risk and prevention. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. Web.

Ringworm information for healthcare professionals. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020, Web.

Sahoo, A. K., & Mahajan, R. (2016). Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 7(2), 77-86. Web.

Suleri, Z. S. (2020). Recurrent tinea corporis and cruris: Antifungal resistance or poor compliance? Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology, 30(1), 1-2.

Water-related diseases. (n.d.). World Health Organization. 2020, Web.

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