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Ringworm is a fungal infection affecting the skin, hair and nails and is spread from animals, humans or the environment. Different forms of ringworm, such as microsporon audouini only affect man. Tinea verrucosum affects cattle, although it may be passed to man and affects the scalp causing circular patches and hair in the infected areas to break off. Microsporon felinum affects dogs and cats and man secondarily. Tinea corporis, or tinea circinata is ringworm affecting the body. The symptoms include patches of redness and scaling similar to eczema with spreading rings and blisters or scaling edges. This is more common nowadays as a result of the wide use of topical corticosteroids. In tinea pedis, known as athelete’s foot, the skin behind and between the toes is especially affected. Onychomycosis is ringworm of the nails usually caused by trychophyton rubrum. This involves a course of an anti-fungal agent, griseoflavin, or the more current drug, itraconazole for at least 6 weeks.
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