Tinea corporis (ringworm) is the name used for infection of the trunk, legs or arms with a dermatophyte fungus. In different parts of the world, different species cause tinea corporis. In New Zealand, Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is the most common cause. Infection often comes from the feet (tinea pedis) or nails (tinea unguium) originally. Microsporum canis (M. canis) from cats and dogs, and T. verrucosum, from farm cattle, are also common.
Clinical features of Tinea Corporis
Tinea corporis may be acute (sudden onset and rapid spread) or chronic (slow extension of a mild, barely inflamed, rash). It usually affects exposed areas but may also spread from other infected sites. Acute tinea corporis presents as itchy inflamed red patches and may be pustular. The cause is often infection by an animal (zoophilic) fungus such as M canis.
Chronic tinea corporis tends to be most prominent in body folds (spreading from tinea cruris). T. rubrum is the most common cause. If widespread, the condition tends to be stubborn to treat and prone to recurrence. This is possibly due to a decreased natural skin resistance to fungi or because of reinfection from the environment.
Diagnosis of tinea corporis
The diagnosis of tinea corporis is confirmed by microscopy and culture of skin scrapings. Occasionally, the diagnosis is made on skin biopsy because of characteristic histopathological features of tinea corporis and organisms may be found in the outside layers of the skin.
Homeopathic treatment for Tinea infection
Sepia: Best homeopathic remedy for ringworm infection in isolated spots.
Tellurium: Top homeopathic medicine for ringworm infection with lesions on a large part of body.
Sulphur: Homeopathic medicine for ringworm infection with intense itching and burning.
Psorinum: Homeopathic treatment for ringworm on scalp and bends of joints
Arsenic Album: Top homeopathic remedy for scalp ringworm.
Graphites : Ringworm with oozing of serous fluids and stickiness of wounds. Especially in obese females with excessive dryness on rest of the body.
Mezerium: Vesicular eruptions upon the skin, running a certain course, itching, burning like fire; dries into a crust and disappears; a new crop appears near or in the same place. Vesicles form crusts beneath which is ulceration; these crusts turn white, chalk-like, are thick, tough and leathery.
Case study:
A woman of 42 years presented with the chief complaint of tinea corporis, especially on trunk. Erruptions were raw and cracked. In a few eruptions there was sticky exudation oozing. There was lot of itching especially after bath and when covering at night. Other physical generals included constipation. She was suffering with menopausal symptoms where her menses were late.
Mental symptoms: she was depressed after her husband’s illness. He was suffering with respiratory troubles. She had taken good care of him and he was recovering. After he recovered she saw the first eruption on her skin. It went on spreading as she didn’t pay much attention to herself.
As her husband started recovering she started feeling indifference towards life. She showed constant anxiety about her husband’s health and at the same time indifference towards him. She was keeping herself busy to avoid anxious thoughts.
Analysis:
- indifference
- apprehensive
- Menopausal symptoms
- Menses too late
- Sticky exudate eruptions
- Itching after getting wet
- Itching after warmth of bed
- Constipation
- Obesity.
There were symptoms of Sepia and Graphites. Looking at the case, the eruptions were basically after-effects of mental suppressions. The mental symptoms were showing a picture of Sepia, where as the eruptions and physical generals presented a picture of Graphites.
Before treatment
Rx: She was given a single dose of Sepia 1M, followed in 10 days by Graphites 200 with quarterly repetition per day.
After 10 days she presented with following picture:
Itching was reduced.
She was given Graphites 200, quarterly repetition per day. 15 days later these were the results (below). This patient has remained asymptomatic ( 8 months now).
