Dermatophytosis – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Dermatophytosis – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. In addition, Dermatophytosis is a disease caused by fungi or mushrooms called dermatophytes. Dermatophytes are fungi  that need keratin for nutrition and must live in the stratum corneum, hair, or nails to survive. Human infections are caused by Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton spp. These infections differ from candidiasis in that they rarely invade the body .

Transmission occurs by contact between individuals, from animal to man and, rarely, from soil to man. The organism  can persist indefinitely. Most people do not develop clinical infection, those who do may have reduced T cell response due to a change in local defenses (eg, trauma with vascular compromise) or from primary (inherited) or secondary (eg, diabetes) diabetes. eg diabetes, HIV, immunosuppression).

Causes of Dermatophytosis: Dermatophytosis is  caused by filamentous fungi  called dermatophytes that are able to use keratin as a source of nutrients. These fungi  are classified into three genera:

• Microsporum: responsible for affecting the skin and hair.
• Trichophyton: affect the nail, skin and hair and is the most frequent genus. Its species T. rubrum is responsible for most infections caused by  keratinophilic fungi .
• Epidermophyton: affect the skin and nail and have only one species that causes disease in humans.

They are of the keratinophilic species and those that cause diseases are called dermatophytes. These microorganisms (keratinophiles) break down keratin to use it as a source of nutrition. Fungi are  located in the most superficial layers of the skin, and when they reach the deepest regions, they cause swelling and inflammation.

Symptoms of Dermatophytosis: The main symptom of Dermatophytosis  is the manifestation of reddish and scaly skin lesions, usually accompanied by itching. They begin with a small point and have a centrifugal growth, forming rounded or oval lesions, with well-defined, reddish and scaly edges, and the center of the lesion tending to heal.

Diagnoses of Dermatophytosis: Dermatophytosis can  be diagnosed by a dermatologist, and also by a general practitioner or pediatrician in children. The doctor can make the diagnosis based on the clinical-epidemiological history and other laboratory tests. The requested and most accurate diagnosis, also to confirm the disease of Dermatophytosis  ,is the collection of material and subsequent analysis of it in the laboratory, for this the affected area is shaved to collect the hairs.

Dermatophytosis Treatments: The treatment of Dermatophytosis  can be done with topical or oral antimycotic drugs, which will depend on the extent of the disease .

Look for a dermatologist at the first symptoms without using any medication on your own, as they can mask the appearance of the disease , making it difficult to correctly diagnose and indicate the most appropriate medication for each case.

Prevention of Dermatophytosis: To prevent Dermatophytosis  , it is necessary to make a careful examination of the scalp and also to check the patient’s household and peridomiciliary contacts in search of symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. For Dermatophytosis  of the body, care must be taken with intimate hygiene and avoid contaminating yourself in public restrooms, changing rooms, public swimming pools and gyms, using suitable clothes or shoes.

During the summer, it is necessary to avoid staying in damp clothes for a long time. In dermatophytosis  of the feet, it is important to decontaminate shoes and socks to avoid recurrence or reinfection.