Types of Fungal Infections:

Superficial: Affect skin – mucous membrane

Tinea versicolor

Dermatophytes: affect the keratin layer of skin, hair, and nail. e.g., tinea pedis, ringworm infection

Candidiasis: Yeast-like, oral thrush, vulvovaginitis, nail infections.

Deep Infections: It affects internal organs such as the lungs, heart, and brain, leading to pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis.

Dermatophytosis (Tinea) Types:

The most common types of ringworm include the following:

• Athlete's foot (tinea pedis); This common condition primarily affects teen and adult males. It affects children before puberty less often. Contributing causes include sweating, not drying the feet well after swimming or bathing, wearing tight socks and shoes, and warm weather conditions. Symptoms of athlete's foot may include:
  • Whitening of the skin between the toes
  • Scaling of the feet
  • Itchy rash on the feet
  • Blisters on the feet
• Jock itch (tinea cruris); Ringworms may be hard to cure. This condition is also more common in males and happens more often during warm weather. It is very rare in females. Symptoms of jock itch may include:
  • Red, ring-like patches in the groin area
  • Itching in the groin area
  • Pain in the groin area
  • It does not usually involve the scrotum.
• Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis); Scalp ringworm is highly contagious, especially among children. It happens mainly in children between the ages of 2 to 10. It rarely happens in adults. Symptoms of scalp ringworm may include:
  • Red, scaly rash on the scalp
  • Itching of the scalp
  • Hair loss on the scalp
  • Rash elsewhere on the body
  Ringworms of the scalp can also develop into a kerion, a large, tender lesion over the area of the initial ringworm. This is caused by hypersensitivity to the ringworm and may be associated with a rash elsewhere and tender lymph nodes in the neck.
• Nail infection (tinea unguium); An infection of the finger or toenail, this type is characterized by a thickened, deformed nail. This condition more often affects the toenails than the fingernails. It happens more often in adolescents and adults rather than young children. Symptoms of nail ringworm may include:
  • Thickening of the ends of the nails
  • Yellow color to the nails
• Body ringworm (tinea corporis); This skin infection is characterized by a ring-like rash anywhere on the body or the face. It happens to all ages but is seen more often in children. It is more common in warmer climates. The symptoms of body ringworm may include:
  • A red, circular lesion with raised edges
  • The middle of the lesion may become less red as the lesion grows.
  • Itching of the affected area
  The symptoms of ringworm may resemble other skin conditions. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.