How to treat microsporia in humans? Modern features of the clinic and treatment of microsporia Microsporum treatment.

Microsporia is an infectious disease of a fungal nature. Counts quite common, appears in approximately 0.5% of cases.

Most susceptible the emergence and development of the disease in young children, since it is during this period that the child is most active, because he learns about the world around him, often comes into contact with animals, without fully realizing the need to observe the rules of personal hygiene.

According to statistics, boys are most often affected, although there is no proven evidence of gender dependence. ABOUT symptoms and treatment We will discuss microsporia in children in the article.

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Characteristics of the disease

Microsporia in children - photo:

Microsporia is a disease caused by fungus of the Microsporium species. This pathology is highly contagious, and you can get infected not only from a sick animal, but also from a person. Although cases of person-to-person transmission are the least common.

Once on the child’s skin, the pathogen penetrates into it and begins actively reproduce. The incubation period ranges from 2 weeks to 2 months. After its expiration, the child exhibits characteristic symptoms of the disease.

The pathogen can affect the skin on any part of the body, as well as the scalp area. In rare cases, a fungal infection affects the nails.

If the pathogen affects an area of ​​the body where there is hair, the hair shaft and follicle are destroyed, which leads to its loss.

This is why the child develops specific bald patches on the affected areas of the skin (especially when it comes to the scalp).

The disease is most common in children. There are special ones for this causes:

Causes and risk factors

The root cause of the occurrence and development of the disease is infection of a child with a fungal infection, which becomes possible upon contact with:

• infected animals;
• sick person;
• contaminated household items;
• contaminated soil.

Exists a number of risk factors, the presence of which increases the likelihood of developing infection. These include:

• climatic conditions, such as hot weather, high humidity;
• weakness of the child's immune system;
• hyperhidrosis;
• failure to comply with hygiene rules;
• skin damage, violation of its integrity;

Routes of infection

You can get infected through contact and everyday life, that is, through direct contact with a sick person or animal.

Moreover, the second option is much more common.

Infection can also occur when using the patient’s personal belongings or items that contain hair or microparticles of skin from an infected animal.

Incubation period

Depending on the form of the disease, the incubation period may vary in length. Thus, with the bestial form of the disease, from the moment of infection until the appearance of the first symptoms, approximately 7-14 days.

If anthropophilic microsporia occurs, the duration of the incubation period is increased and can be up to 2 months.

Types and forms of the disease

Depending on the method of infection and the location of the skin manifestations, several types of the disease are distinguished.

Classification criterion	Form of the disease and its characteristics
Transfer method	Anthropophilic form. Infection occurs through contact with a sick person or his personal belongings. Zoophilic form. The source of infection is an infected animal, as well as objects on which its fur and skin particles are found. Geophilic form. Infection occurs through contact with soil that contains spores of a pathogenic fungus. This species is considered the rarest.
Localization location	Skin. On the smooth skin of a child, 1-3 foci of infection form in the form of spots with a diameter of 0.5-2 cm. Most often, spots appear on the shoulders, face, and neck. The scalp. In the temporal and parietal regions of the head, 1-2 large lesions occur. In some cases, the child may develop several smaller lesions. Nails. A white spot forms on the surface of the nail plate, which grows over time, destroying the nail. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the palms or soles. This situation is extremely rare.

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Symptoms and signs

Depending on the location of the lesions, the symptoms pathology.

However, there is a number of signs, which are considered common to all forms. These include:

1. The appearance of red spots is the main symptom of microsporia. The spots can appear on any part of the body.
2. After some time, the spots become covered with small white scales.
3. Severe itching and peeling on the affected areas of the skin.
4. Increased body temperature. This sign is optional; many children suffering from microsporia do not have hyperthermia.
5. Enlarged lymph nodes, most often in the neck.

Symptoms of skin microsporia

Symptoms of microsporia of the scalp

At the initial stage, 1 lesion appears - a rounded pink spot, up to several cm in diameter. The spot has clear boundaries and rises slightly above the surface of healthy skin. Over time, the size of the spot increases and it acquires a denser structure. A specific ridge forms along the edges of the spot, which consists of a vesicular rash and a crust. The inflammatory process in the center of the spot gradually subsides, the skin becomes lighter. Other areas of inflammation may also appear on the child’s skin. This occurs with re-infection.

Flaky patches appear on the scalp. White scales form at the roots of the hair and surround the hair. The quality of the hairline deteriorates, the hair becomes weakened, brittle, and loses its shine. The hair shaft breaks off, leaving short hairs about 0.5 cm long on the child’s head. The remaining hair is covered with a grayish coating, which consists of fungal spores. The skin on the affected area becomes inflamed and turns red.

Complications and consequences

With timely treatment, microsporia does not leave behind any complications.

If therapy is delayed or absent altogether, unpleasant consequences such as the appearance of suppuration may occur.

Diagnostics

For making a diagnosis the doctor needs:

The symptoms of microsporia are similar to those of other diseases. Diagnostic methods allow differentiate this pathology with such ailments as alopecia areata, psoriasis, lichen planus.

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Treatment methods and drugs

To eliminate the causes and symptoms of the disease, various medications. The choice of one or another drug is made by the doctor depending on the form of the disease and its severity.

For oral administration	Local remedies	Shampoos
It is necessary to take antifungal drugs. Oral medications are prescribed for severe disease and extensive infection. The following drugs are used: Griseofulvin; Terbinafine; Itraconazole	In case of damage to the skin, when the vellus hair on the body remains intact, it is sufficient to use external agents, such as: ointments based on sulfur, salicylic acid, tar.	Before washing your hair, the hair is shaved (this must be done once a week). The composition of the medicinal shampoo should include substances such as selenium sulfide and Ketoconazole.

Traditional medicine

In addition to the main methods of therapy, you can also use traditional recipes, such as:

Rules of care

To prevent the spread of infection, The following rules must be observed:

1. The child must have separate hygiene items (comb, towel, washcloth, etc.).
2. The baby's clothes must be washed in hot water with powder.
3. The child’s toys and personal belongings need to be boiled.
4. It is recommended to disinfect furniture and other items in the children's room with a fungus-killing agent.

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Prevention measures

You can reduce the risk of infection, following simple rules of prevention:

Microsporia is an unpleasant disease, caused by fungal infection. Most often, the carriers of the pathogen are animals, including domestic ones. Infection from a sick person is much less common.

The pathology is accompanied by characteristic symptoms that can be seen even with the naked eye, however, for an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to visit a doctor.

Treatment consists of taking antifungal drugs, using topical products and medicated shampoos. The choice of therapy method is made by the doctor.

You can learn about the symptoms and treatment of microsporia in children from the video:

We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!

Microsporia in humans is also transmitted through household means. Spores tend to accumulate under the skin flakes. Once in the external environment, the fungus is viable for another 1–3 months. Therefore, you can catch the disease by sharing bed linen, towels, toys, hair combs and other everyday items.

Microsporia with a long and mild course sometimes goes away on its own when the child enters the puberty phase. Children get sick much more often than adults, but among adults, microsporia is more common in young women. The fungus is able to remain viable for several months, even once on the soil. In this case, the soil acts only as a carrier of infection, but not a source of disease.

Microsporia can be completely cured, the outcome of the disease is favorable. If the disease is not treated, self-healing occurs by the time of puberty. Microsporia, which is transmitted from sick animals, is characterized by seasonality, most often outbreaks of the disease occur in late summer and early autumn.

Photo

Microsporia of the scalp

Microsporia of the scalp affects mostly children 5-12 years old. More often, the areas affected by the fungus are the temporal and parietal regions, including the crown. The disease manifests itself as oval or round lesions with clear contours and a size of 5 cm.

At the beginning of the disease, the fungus is localized at the mouth of the hair follicle, forming a white ring-shaped scale that surrounds the hair like a cuff. As the process progresses, after a week microsporia affects 100% of the hair, which as a result breaks off as it becomes fragile.

The remaining hair loses its shine and appears dull, as it is covered with a gray-white sheath formed from fungal spores. The skin of the affected area becomes swollen, reddened with white-gray scales.

When an additional infection occurs, suppuration develops, which is characterized by the presence of a pronounced inflammatory process. Scales appear on the surface, and when raised, pus is released. Suppuration develops in the absence of complete treatment of microsporia or in the presence of serious concomitant pathology.

Microsporia of smooth skin

In the zone of penetration of the fungus, a red, swollen spot forms, rising above the skin, with clear boundaries, which gradually increases. A raised ridge of nodules, crusts and bubbles forms along the edge of the spot.

In the center, the inflammation resolves, acquiring a pale pink tint, and on the surface there is pityriasis-like peeling. The lesions are in the form of a ring, do not cause subjective sensations or are accompanied by moderate itching.

Typically, the fungus affects the skin of the neck, face, forearms and shoulders. Rarely the skin of the soles, palms and nail plates is affected. In young children and young women, inflammation is pronounced, and peeling is minimal. If you are prone to allergies, the fungus is masked, making diagnosis difficult.

Symptoms of microsporia

With microsporia of smooth skin, pinkish-red spots appear on the body, which are distinguished by the following characteristics:

Which doctors should I contact for microsporia?

Treatment of microsporia

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you need to consult a dermatologist. After diagnosis, the doctor will draw up a suitable treatment regimen. Treatment of microsporia in humans is determined by the type and severity of the disease, as well as the characteristics of the course.

Microsporia of smooth skin areas is usually treated with antifungal ointments:

• Clotrimazole;
• Terbinafine;
• Bifonazole;
• Ciclopirox;
• Iconazole.

Areas of skin lesions are treated with iodine, which acts as an antiseptic and at the same time dries out the skin tissue. In addition, the course of treatment sometimes includes tar, sulfur and salicylic ointments, which have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and restorative properties.

When treating fungal infections of the scalp, the same local antifungal drugs are used. Additionally, it is extremely important to wash your hair at least twice a week. If the process is very widespread, doctors recommend shaving off the hair for a while, which has a positive effect on the effectiveness of therapeutic procedures.

In complicated cases, patients are prescribed oral administration of the specific antibiotic Griseofulvin. In addition, they speed up recovery:

• immunomodulatory drugs;
• herbal infusions;
• multivitamin complexes.

The patient is isolated for treatment. Therapy is carried out both in a hospital and on an outpatient basis. It is important to keep the room clean, do not forget about disinfection, changing and washing bed linen.

Folk remedies for treating microsporia

The following traditional medicines are used:

apply napkins moistened with fresh onion juice to the affected areas;

lubricate the affected areas with tincture of common lilac flowers: pour two tablespoons of dried flowers with 100 milliliters of 70% alcohol, leave and strain;

wash the affected areas with a decoction of celandine herb: pour one tablespoon of dry herb with a glass of water and boil over low heat for 10-12 minutes, cool, strain; alternate with other means;

lubricate affected areas with propolis oil: chop 15-20 grams of propolis with a knife, pour in 50 grams of vegetable oil and heat in a water bath or in the oven until the oil boils, stirring occasionally; let the oil boil two or three times; the wax will settle to the bottom of the dish, and the propolis will dissolve in the oil; when the prepared oil has cooled, carefully drain it from the sediment;

lubricate the affected areas with an ointment prepared using the following mixture: burdock roots - two parts, hop cones - two parts, calendula officinalis flowers - one part; Preparation of the medicine: grind 10-15 grams of the dry mixture in a mortar into powder and mix with 40 grams of Vaseline.

Microsporia in children

Microsporia in children is a fungal disease that affects smooth skin and scalp; in rare cases, nails are affected.

Causes

Microsporia develops in children when a fungus called microsporum comes into contact with the skin. The source of spread of this fungus is a person sick with microsporia or pets (cats, dogs). Infection also occurs through objects used by the sick person.

Symptoms

After entering the child’s body, the fungus does not manifest itself at first. The first symptoms of microsporia appear 14-90 days after infection. During this time, the fungus manages to multiply in the hair cuticles. Microorganisms fill the hair follicles with mycelium, forming a dense cover around them.

Treatment

Treatment of microsporia in children begins immediately after the first signs of fungal infection are detected. The decision on how to treat the disease is made by the doctor based on the tests performed. In advanced cases, antibiotics are used. Treatment takes 4-6 weeks. Quarantine is the first measure for microsporia in children.

Every morning, the affected areas of the baby's skin are lubricated with an alcohol solution of iodine. In the evening - treated with ointments containing sulfur, salicylic acid and tar. Unfortunately, the hair around the affected area will have to be shaved off. You will need to wash your hair every day, using only baby soap. Such procedures are performed within 12-15 days.

Prevention

To prevent the spread of microsporia, the following measures are taken:

If a child develops characteristic symptoms of microsporia, he is isolated; Objects that are not subject to disinfection are removed from the room intended for a patient with microsporia:

• carpets;
• paths;
• rugs;
• rag toys.

Besides:

Causes of microsporia

The source of infection for microsporia is animals, cats and dogs. However, this disease is also characterized by an anthroponotic route of spread. In the latter case, we are talking about rusty microsporum, which is transmitted through contact with a sick person or household items.

The causative agents of the disease are fungi, both anthropophilic and zoophilic. The first include Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum ferrugineum. The causative agent of the second group is the fungi Microsporum canis.

Factors predisposing to the development of the disease:

• decreased immunoresistance;
• childhood, before the onset of puberty;
• disruption of the functioning of the sweat and sebaceous glands;
• local neurovascular disorders;
• microtraumas on the skin;
• disruption of proliferative processes of the skin;
• vitamin deficiencies and lack of certain microelements in the body.

There are risk groups that are more often susceptible to infection with microsporia:

• children and young women;
• persons with immune diseases;
• children with endocrinological diseases;
• children from disadvantaged families.

Diagnosis of microsporia

Laboratory research methods are based on the analysis of scrapings from the skin, scaly elements of the skin and hair fragments. Before conducting a laboratory test, the patient is examined by a dermatologist, who, based on characteristic manifestations, determines the presence of microsporia.

Research is carried out through direct microsporia of biological materials collected from the patient. For this purpose, light microscopes are used to help identify signs of fungal damage.

Isolation of a pure culture of the pathogen occurs through cultivation on special nutrient media. This technique is used to determine the type and sensitivity of the fungus to chemicals and medications.

The main method for detecting the causative agent of microsporia is the ability to fluoresce in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, which helps to easily detect types of microsporia without unnecessary research.

A Wood's lamp is used as a source of ultraviolet light. If, under the influence of a lamp, the hair has a specific green or acid yellow color, it is concluded that it is affected by microsporia.

In addition, a histological research method is used, which involves examining biological materials pre-stained with dyes using a microscope. This method detects infection and the severity of the inflammatory process, but it is impossible to identify the pathogen.

Classification of microsporia

1. By pathogen:
   • anthropophilic;
   • bestiality;
   • geophilic.
2. By localization:
   • superficial scalp;
   • superficial smooth skin;
   • deep suppurative.

Prevention of microsporia

Prevention of microsporia consists of identifying, isolating and treating patients with microsporia.

• Periodic medical examinations are carried out in children's institutions.
• The identified patient must be isolated and sent for treatment to a specialized hospital.
• Things belonging to a patient with microsporia must be disinfected.
• Relatives and persons in contact with the patient are examined.
• Attention is also paid to domestic animals, which become a source of infection.
• Animals with microsporia receive full antifungal treatment.

How and with what to disinfect microsporia

Reliable treatment of an apartment against microsporia, if you have the necessary tools and medications, can take quite a lot of time. To effectively disinfect all premises, you will need a set of the following tools:

• quartzizer - a special device used in medical institutions;
• bleach or bleach;
• ethyl medical alcohol (any antiseptic solution will also work);
• table vinegar;
• citrus essential oil or similar liquid derived from lavender;
• solution of soap and soda;
• 3 or 4 percent chlorhexidine.

If one or more components from the list are missing, do not despair, you can treat the apartment against lichen without them, but its reliability may decrease.

If you have a quartz generator at home, the first thing you should do is turn it on. 15 minutes of intense work is enough. It is worth carrying out quartzing in a completely enclosed room, and it is advisable not to be present in it personally, or to use special protective equipment.

After completing the process discussed above, you must thoroughly wash all clothes in the house. Whiteness must be added to detergents. Treat absolutely all surfaces of upholstered furniture, including pillows, with chlorhexidine steam.

The surface of floor coverings, cabinet furniture, doors and other hard surfaces should be thoroughly wiped with a solution of water with iodine, vinegar, essential oil, chlorhexidine, chlorine or alcohol. Ratio – 1:10. Thoroughly wash door frames, baseboards, vents and other hard-to-reach areas.

Never mix these substances with each other in water. Choose only one of them. Combining them in one vessel can lead to irreversible consequences.

The complex of operations described is mandatory if, of course, you are really going to get rid of a fungal infection and protect others from its effects.

Questions and answers on the topic "Microsporia"

Question:Hello, my daughter developed a small spot (0.5-0.7 mm) on the skin in the solar plexus area; after scraping for fungi, the dermatologist diagnosed mycosporosis. She prescribed local treatment: lubricate with fucorcin 3 times and lubricate with Lorinden ointment 3 times, do not wet it, boil and iron the linen. The instructions for using Lorinden ointment indicate age under 10 years as contraindications. My daughter is only 5 years old. Hemangiomas are also contraindicated. I don’t understand, you can’t smear the hemangiomas themselves, otherwise our diagnosis is hemangiomatosis? Our hemangiomas have been treated. But can this ointment be used with such contraindications?

Answer: You should discuss with your doctor the use of Lorinden analogues without these contraindications.

Question:Hello. My child has microsporia on his head. How long does it take to treat this in a hospital?

Answer: Several weeks, depending on the pathogen, severity and extent of the disease. As a rule, treatment of microsporia in children takes 4-6 weeks.

Question:Hello, my daughter was confirmed to have microsporia on her shoulder, she was treated for a month, all tests were normal, but we are still being monitored. Now this infection has stuck to me, only on my leg, how can I protect the child now? I am treated in the same way as my daughter with ointments, plus I am pregnant, how can this affect the fetus? And I still got it from my child? We still don’t know where she acquired this infection.

Answer: Treatment of microsporia during pregnancy is limited to local treatment of foci of infection, since taking drugs orally has a negative effect on the developing fetus. This treatment does not have any negative effects. Disinfection must be carried out thoroughly (read the relevant section). Microsporia is common among pregnant women, since at this time the body’s resistance to infectious agents sharply decreases, the composition of sweat changes, in which an alkaline environment begins to predominate, and accordingly its protective function decreases.

Question:Hello! How often should bed linen be changed for a patient with microsporia? Thank you!

Answer: The incubation period is 5-7 days, which means once every 5 days. It all depends on your capabilities. The main thing: regularity, proper processing and storage separately from other linen.

Question:Hello! The child had spots on his head, I anointed him with chlorophyllipt. After 2 days we went to the dermatologist. They looked under a lamp and diagnosed microsporia. They took scrapings there, but before taking the test they didn’t wipe the stains with anything. The diagnosis was confirmed. Although I told them all that I applied chlorophyllipt solution. Could it be that the analysis is not correct?

Answer: Due to the ability of the pathogen to fluoresce in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, detecting microsporia is not difficult.

Question:Good afternoon A 9-year-old child was diagnosed with microsporia. Is it possible to treat at home? If so, how effective will it be? Or do you still need to be hospitalized?

Answer: Hello. Treatment of microsporia is carried out both in a hospital and on an outpatient basis. At home, it is important to monitor the cleanliness of the patient’s room, do not forget about disinfection, washing and changing bed linen.

Question:Hello. The kitten got nailed. Seems to be suffering from microsporia. But I picked him up and only then discovered the lesions. I immediately applied terbizil. Then I bought YAM at the pharmacy. How do I know if I'm infected or not? Is it still contagious after treating the affected areas with terbizil?

Answer: Hello. Treat the kitten, take it to a dermatologist if it appears.

Question:Hello. How can you cure microsporia of the scalp in a child without pills as quickly as possible? We were treated first with griseofulvin - we were immediately hospitalized with acute pancreatitis, then Lamicon for about 2 months, then the dose was gradually increased (the child is 3 and a half years old, weighs 16 kg) 1/3 tablet 2 times a day + local treatment. But lamicon also became poorly tolerated! By the way, under the wood lamp there is no longer a green glow (there were 2 spots on the head - one small and the other larger).

Answer: Hello. If there is no glow under the Wood's lamp, then you can continue only local therapy (Lamicon cream or spray alternated with salicylic ointment) until the hair grows completely. You can also mix celandine and milkweed powder in a 1:1 ratio with medical petroleum jelly and rub into the affected areas 2 times a day.

Question:Hello. The analysis revealed microsporia, no glow, one spot at the junction of the scalp and smooth skin. They prescribed griseovulfine 1 t 3 times a day, mycospor cream and iodine. The questions are: in this case, is there a chance of cure only with local remedies or is it 100% necessary to take an antimycotic? Maybe it would be better to replace it with Lamisil? Or should I try local treatment first?

Answer: Hello. The presence of a lesion on the scalp is an indication for oral administration of griseofulvin. Unfortunately, Lamisil is not effective enough for microsporia.

Question:Hello. Please tell me what to do correctly in such a situation. The fact is that in the garden, in our group, microsporia was diagnosed. The son did not have direct contact with the sick person. True, we left after sick leave before the group was processed, processed and quarantined after lunch, so we spent half the day surrounded by soft toys, bed linen and carpet. Should I stay at home and what is the chance of getting infected? Quarantine was established for 28 days.

Answer: Hello. There is always a chance of becoming infected, since pathogenic fungi are easily transmitted through household items, unless, of course, a sick child who had already had clinical manifestations of infection at the time of contact with these items had previously been in contact with them. There is no point in sitting at home, because if the infection occurred during these unfortunate afternoons, then you only need to wait for the clinic, and if it did not happen, then after treatment it most likely will not happen again. The incubation period for the anthroponotic form of microsporia can be much longer than the established quarantine period; to be precise, it can reach 45 days. Therefore, manifestations of infection may make themselves felt after quarantine is lifted.

Microsporia (mycosis) of smooth skin is a fungal disease, popularly known as. With ordinary mycosis, they can affect hair, nails and skin. Microsporia of smooth skin, as the name implies, affects only smooth skin. Currently, it is the most common fungal skin disease.

Pathogen

The causative agent is a fungus Microsporum. It belongs to dermatophytes, that is, a group of harmful microorganisms that affect the external integument of humans and animals. Among Microsporum there are more than 20 subspecies, one of which is the most common causative agent of smooth skin microsporia - this is a fungus Microsporum Canis.

Microsporum Canis gets on human skin and finds the hair follicle. There the fungus lays spores, which after some time begin to germinate and have a detrimental effect on the skin.

The fungus spreads quickly, so within 5-7 days a person will see the first external manifestations of the disease.

Routes of infection

The most common way to “acquire” mycosis of smooth skin is skin-to-skin contact with an affected person or, what happens more often, animals. That is why ringworm is usually acquired by children who play with street animals(usually cats). For this reason, foci of the disease appear in those places that the animal could touch, or that, after contact, the person himself could touch with dirty hands: arms, neck, stomach and face.

Second way– contact through things touched by a person with mycosis. It can be clothing, towels and everyday items. Children often get this disease while playing in the sandbox. Microsporum spores could get on any object surrounding the patient, after which, when using the thing, the fungus can spread to a healthy person.

Symptoms

Main symptom of the disease– disruption of the normal condition of the skin. The patient develops a slight raised spot(in some cases just a halo) red. After a day or two, the skin on it begins to peel off and in some places becomes covered with dry crusts. Most patients experience itching in this area. With the exception of external signs, no other changes occur, including in human behavior: the fungus does not affect body temperature, mood and general condition of the body.

Diagnostics

After external signs appear, the disease is diagnosed using two methods: They are examined using a special lamp or a skin scraper is taken from the affected area. At the first appointment with a doctor, a fluorescent lamp is brought to the hearth in a dark room, which will show a green glow in case of infection with a fungus. In the first two days after the appearance of the red spot, there may be no glow, so at an early stage this method may be useless, but during treatment this procedure will quickly show whether the prescribed treatment is effective. The examination is recommended every 3 days.

Laboratory research are able to give a more accurate picture. When taking skin samples, the affected area will be treated with alcohol, and then a few dry scales will be carefully scraped off and sent for analysis under a microscope. An observer, if the patient truly has microsporia, will easily detect a large accumulation of spores.

Treatment of microsporia of smooth skin in humans

The disease is treated with local drugs, killing the fungal pathogen. Every morning the patient lubricates the affected area with iodine solution, and in the evenings applies healing ointments.

These include:

• Clotrimazole
• Isoconazole
• Ciclopirox
• Biphonazal
• 20% sulfur ointment
• Sulfur-salicylic ointment, etc.

After applying the drug, cover the area with a band-aid so that the product is completely absorbed overnight.

To relieve unpleasant itching, you can also use tar ointment.

Suprastin, for example, relieves discomfort after the first day of oral use. And the ointment helps in just a few hours, but has a strong tar smell, which not everyone likes.

In addition, tar ointment should be used when the area affected by microsporia is not lubricated with other drugs. Typically, patients apply iodine in the morning, two hours later tar ointment, and in the evening the healing drug.

As a preventive measure, a person should observe personal hygiene standards, avoid contact with street animals and people with smooth skin mycosis. If one person in the family becomes ill, he should be isolated from other family members and other household members should be examined. The patient's clothes are washed at high temperatures and then ironed with steam. This also applies to bed linen. If there are pets in the house, they also need to be carefully examined.

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Microsporia is a highly contagious (highly contagious) infectious disease of smooth skin, scalp and nails caused by pathogenic fungi genus Microsporum. It was on the basis of the Latin name of the infectious agent (Microsporum) that the name of the disease itself (microsporia) was adopted. Microsporia appears as round, red, flaky patches on the skin, bald spots on the scalp, or white and dull circles on the nails.

Microsporia and ringworm (microsporia and trichophytosis)

In addition to the medical name, this fungal disease has another common name - ringworm. lichen. The term "ringworm" is the traditional designation for a group of diseases of the skin and scalp in which the hair is affected and breaks off, resulting in the formation of bald spots. And since 100 years ago doctors were not able to identify infectious agents due to the lack of appropriate techniques, all diseases were classified, described and named mainly by external manifestations. That is why microsporia was called ringworm.

However, with the development of science and technological progress, doctors were able to identify not only signs of diseases, but also isolate their causative agents, which was literally a breakthrough. During this period, it was possible to establish that the disease, which has always been called ringworm, can be caused by two types of pathogenic fungi - Trichophyton and Microsporum. And then the type of ringworm caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton began to be called trichophytosis, and Microsporum - accordingly, microsporia. But since the external signs and course of trichophytosis and microsporia are the same, these two infections retain the same common name - ringworm.

Thus, according to modern concepts, microsporia is a fungal infection ( mycosis), affecting the skin, hair and nails, and at the same time is considered one of the varieties of ringworm.

The causative agent of infection

Among the fungi of the genus Microsporum, there are about 20 species that can provoke microsporia of smooth skin, scalp and nails. Microsporia is most often caused by the following types of fungi of the genus Microsporum:

• M. distorum;
• M. rivalieri;
• M. langeronii;
• M. canis;
• M. nanum;
• M. persicolor;
• M. gypseum;
• M. cookii;
• Keratynomyces ajelloii.

Moreover, in 90% of cases, the causative agent of microsporia is a fungus of the species Microsporum canis, and the remaining listed varieties of pathogenic microorganisms cause infection in only 10% of cases.

Methods of transmission of microsporia (how you can get infected)

Infection with microsporia occurs through contact, that is, by touching any objects, substances, animals or people who are sick with the infection, are its carriers, or have fungal spores on their surface. To clearly understand the mechanisms and routes of transmission of microsporia in the population, it is necessary to know the varieties of this fungus, which affect the way they spread among people.

So, depending on the main host, all types of Microsporum fungi are divided into three varieties:
1. Zoophilic fungi – the main hosts are animals (most often kittens, less often dogs);
2. Anthropophilic fungi – the main owners are people;
3. Geophilic fungi – the main habitat is soil.

Zoophilic, atropophilic and geophilic fungi, when they come into contact with human skin, cause the same infectious disease - microsporia, but the routes of their transmission and, accordingly, the methods of infection are different.

Yes, transfer zoophilic fungi genus Microsporum occurs through direct household contact with infected cats or dogs. And since kittens are most often carriers of microsporia, there are two seasonal peaks in the incidence of this infection - in mid-summer and autumn, when cats give birth. To become infected with microsporia, it is enough to pet a cat or dog that has the infection or is an asymptomatic carrier. People usually become infected from their pet cats or dogs, which are constantly in contact with their owners, sitting on laps, crawling under blankets, etc.

However, zoophilic fungi of the genus Microsporum can be transmitted to humans not only as a result of direct contact with a sick animal, but also indirectly through pieces of its fur. The fact is that cats and dogs that suffer from microsporia or are carriers of the fungus can leave small and unnoticeable pieces of hair on various household items (furniture, carpets, beds, sofas, armchairs, clothes, shoes, etc.), in which contains fungal spores. A person touching such pieces of wool containing fungal spores also becomes infected with microsporia.

Thus, transmission of zoophilic microsporia can occur both through direct contact with a sick animal, and through touching objects that have fur and skin flakes of an infected animal.

Anthropophilic fungi genus Microsporum are transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person through direct close contact (hugs, kisses, etc.) or through the use of various objects on which there are skin flakes of an infected person (for example, when using a comb, hat, hair scissors belonging to a person with microsporia). That is, anthropophilic fungi are transmitted in the same way as zoophilic fungi, but from person to person, and not from animals.

Infection geophilic fungi genus Microsporum occurs through direct contact with soil contaminated with these microbes.

When a person becomes infected with any type of Microsporum fungus (zoophilic, anthropophilic or geophilic), then in the future he becomes a source of infection for others who can be infected with microsporia from him. However, despite the hypothetical possibility of infecting other people, family members of patients with microsporia very rarely become infected.

The routes of transmission of microsporia described above do not fully reflect the picture of how a fungal infection occurs. Thus, if a fungus simply gets on the skin, a person will not get sick with microsporia, since the pathogenic microbe will be destroyed by normal microflora and the immune system or simply washed away during hygiene measures. This means that for the disease microsporia it is necessary not only for the fungus to get on the skin, but also for the presence of certain predisposing factors that will allow it to penetrate the skin and provoke an infection.

To such predisposing factors include the following:
1. Traumatic skin injuries;
2. Skin maceration;
3. Reduced immunity.

Thus, microsporia is transmitted from an animal or person to another person only if he has the specified predisposing factors.

Microsporia in children

Microsporia in children is much more common than in adults, which is explained by two main factors. Firstly, children are more likely to come into contact with sick animals, and accordingly, they have a higher risk of contracting an infection. And secondly, the sebaceous glands of the skin of children do not produce acids that have a destructive effect on fungi. That is, a fungus that gets on the skin of a child is much more likely to provoke microsporia than in an adult in a similar situation, since after puberty the glands begin to produce acids that have a detrimental effect on microsporia pathogens.

The clinical manifestations, course and principles of treatment of microsporia in children do not differ from those for adults. Therefore, it is inappropriate to consider separately the characteristics of microsporia in childhood.

Types of microsporia (classification)

Depending on the leading factor underlying the classification, there are several options for dividing microsporia into different types.

So, depending on the predominant area of ​​damage, microsporia is divided into three main types:
1. Microsporia of smooth skin;
2. Microsporia of the scalp;
3. Microsporia of nails.

In addition, medical specialists distinguish three forms of microsporia, depending on what type of pathogen caused the infection:
1. Zoonotic microsporia - caused by species of fungi Microsporum, which are zoophilic (the main hosts are animals);
2. Anthroponotic microsporia - caused by species of Microsporum fungi, which are classified as anthropophilic (the main host is humans);
3. Geophilic microsporia - caused by species of Microsporum fungi, which are classified as geophilic (the main habitat is soil).

The divisions into zoonotic, anthroponotic and geophilic microsporia have no clinical significance, since they all have the same symptoms, a similar course and are treated according to the same principles. This classification is important for epidemiologists because it allows them to identify the primary sources of infection and carry out appropriate anti-epidemic measures if necessary.

Clinically important is also the classification of microsporia according to the type of course, the depth of tissue damage and the response of the immune system to infection. According to these criteria, the following types of microsporia are distinguished:

• Surface form (the lesions are located on the surface of smooth skin or under the hair);
• Exudative form (foci are located on any part of the body and liquid discharge oozes from them);
• Infiltrative-suppurative form (the lesions penetrate deep into the tissues, at the site of the lesion there is severe swelling with the addition of a secondary bacterial infection, which causes suppuration);
• Nail shape(foci are located on the nails);
• Chronic form (a variant of a long-existing surface form).

Incubation period of the disease

The duration of the incubation period depends on the type of fungus that provoked microsporia. Thus, when infected with zoophilic and geophilic species of Microsporum fungi, the incubation period lasts 5–14 days. And when infected with anthropophilic forms, the incubation period of microsporia lasts much longer - from 4 to 6 weeks. But since microsporia is most often provoked by a fungus of the Microsporumcanis species, which belongs to the zoophilic species, in most cases the incubation period of the infection is 1 - 2 weeks.

Symptoms (signs) of microsporia

All types of microsporia are characterized by both general signs, symptoms and features of the clinical course, and certain nuances that distinguish the forms from each other. Therefore, for general orientation in the problem, first of all we will consider those symptoms that are inherent in all forms of microsporia. And only after this we separately focus on the features inherent in various forms of microsporia.

The very first symptoms of incipient microsporia are red spots that form on the scalp or body. If microsporia affects the scalp, then spots may appear not only under the hair, but also in the area of ​​the eyebrows and eyelashes. With microsporia of smooth skin, spots form on any part of the body.

A few days after their appearance, the spots become pink and rather pale, and their surface is covered with whitish scales. At the same time, the hair loses its color and breaks off at a height of several millimeters from the surface of the skin, creating the effect of a short haircut. Because of this, characteristic and clearly visible bald spots are formed on the scalp, on which skin with scales and short hair resembling stiff stubble are visible. In some cases, black spots form on bald spots.

Sometimes microsporia of the scalp does not cause the formation of bald spots due to hair breaking, but provokes the formation of a large number of scales, which people mistake for profuse dandruff, which appeared completely unexpectedly for them. Also, in rare cases, microsporia appears as a gray spot on the scalp, in the area of ​​which there is intense hair loss.

If lichen affects smooth skin, then the initial spots simply turn pale, acquire a grayish color and become covered with scales. Outside the spot, a clearly visible ridge is formed, raised above the surface of the skin, as if delimiting the affected area from healthy areas. Inside the spot, another spot may form, smaller in size, but exactly the same in structure, which is why the affected area takes on the appearance of a target.

Over time, foci of microsporia on smooth skin and scalp increase in size and take on the shape of a regular circle or oval. The size of the lesions can reach 10 cm in diameter. At the same time, their surface is covered with a dense layer of gray scales, which give them the appropriate color. As a result, the edge of the spot looks like a red rim, and the inside is painted a pale gray-pinkish color.

If two or more foci of microsporia are located nearby, they can merge into a spot. Scaly spots peel off with varying degrees of intensity. Sometimes peeling is accompanied by severe itching, and in other cases the spot does not cause any discomfort at all.

In children and adults, when foci of microsporia are localized on the scalp, face, neck or upper half of the body, body temperature may rise and the cervical lymph nodes may enlarge.

In severe cases of microsporia, severe inflammation of the skin develops in the affected area with swelling, exudation and suppuration, which is called scab.

In general, microsporia in children and adults occurs as described. Let's consider the features and more precise characteristics of spots characteristic of various forms of fungal infection.

Skin microsporia (smooth skin microsporia) in adults and children

As a rule, the infection occurs in a superficial form, which begins with the appearance of a red spot of a round or oval shape, which has clear boundaries and rises above the rest of the surface of the skin. It is this spot that is the focus of the lesion. Gradually, the spot increases in size, becomes dense and swollen. The outer border of the spot transforms into a roller, rising above the surface of the skin, consisting of bubbles and crusts. In the center of the spot, inflammation decreases and the entire area limited by the outer ridge becomes covered with flaky scales and acquires a pale pink color.

However, the fungus can re-infect an area that is already inside the outer ring. In this case, another ring is formed inside the ring, as a result of which the lesion takes on the bizarre appearance of a target. Such affected areas of the “ring in a ring” type are characteristic mainly of anthroponotic microsporia.

The total number of microsporia foci on smooth skin is usually small and amounts to 1–3 spots. The diameter of the spots is most often 0.5 - 3 cm, but sometimes the lesions can increase up to 5 cm in radius. Closely located spots can merge into one. Lesions can be located on any part of the body, but most often they are located on the face, neck, forearms and shoulders.

Non-inflamed microsporia spots, as a rule, do not cause any unpleasant sensations. Sometimes they may be mildly itchy. If there is severe inflammation in the lesions, they are very itchy and painful.

In people who have reduced delayed sensitivity reactions, microsporia can occur in the so-called abortive form. In this case, the lesion looks like a pale pink spot without clear boundaries and bubbles forming a peripheral ridge.

In newborns and children under 3 years of age, microsporia occurs in an erythematous-edematous form, in which the lesion is red, inflamed and swollen with a minimal amount of scales and peeling.

In people prone to atopy (for example, those suffering from atopic dermatitis), microsporia occurs in a papular-squamous form. In this case, spots appear on areas of the skin characterized by the production of large amounts of sebum, such as the face, chest and back. The lesions are abundantly infiltrated (dense, swollen) and lichenified (the skin on them is dense and thickened, with a pronounced pattern and impaired pigmentation).

In young women (under 30 years of age) who suffer from increased hair growth on the legs, microsporia lesions usually appear in the form of red and inflamed nodules with a diameter of 2–3 cm. This is a deep form of microsporia.

Microsporia capitis (microsporia of the scalp)

Most often, foci of microsporia are located on the scalp in children aged 5–12 years. In adults, this localization of lesions is rare, since with the onset of puberty, hair follicles begin to produce acid, which has a detrimental effect on the causative agent of microsporia. And therefore, after the onset of puberty, microsporia in children heals spontaneously.

A characteristic feature of childhood microsporia is that the infection almost never occurs in children with red hair.

Microsporia of the scalp is a round or oval lesion with a clear border, most often located on the crown, crown or temples. Usually there are 1 - 2 lesions on the head with a diameter of 2 - 5 cm. At the borders of the lesions, small secondary lesions with a diameter of 0.5 - 1.5 cm, which are screenings, may appear.

At the initial stages of the disease, a flaky patch of skin forms in the affected area. In this area at the roots of the hair, you can see ring-shaped scales surrounding the hairs along the entire perimeter. After a week, the hair itself is affected, losing color, becoming dull, brittle and fragile, and as a result breaks off at a distance of 5 mm from the surface of the skin. The short “brush” remaining in place of the broken hairs, dull and covered with a grayish coating, is an accumulation of fungal spores. If the roots of broken hair are smoothed in any direction, they will remain in the position they were given. The skin under the hair fragments is moderately reddish, dense and covered with a large number of grayish scales.

In the anthroponotic form of microsporia, a characteristic feature is the location of the lesions at the border of hair growth, when one half of the spot is on the scalp, and the second on the smooth skin.

The picture described above is a typical course of microsporia. However, in rare cases, the infection occurs in atypical forms, such as:

• Infiltrative form Microsporia of the head is characterized by an elevation of the lesion above the rest of the skin. The skin of the lesion is red and swollen, and the hair is broken off at a level of 4 mm.
• Suppurative form microsporia is characterized by a strong inflammatory process, as well as thickening and compaction of the skin in the affected area. In this case, bluish-red nodes with pustules on the surface are formed, through which pus comes out when pressing on the affected area.
• Exudative form microsporia is characterized by severe redness, swelling and small blisters in the affected area. Due to the secreted inflammatory fluid, the skin scales stick together and form a dense crust covering the lesion.
• Trichophytoid form microsporia is characterized by multiple small lesions with mild peeling. The lesions are vague, without clear boundaries and signs of inflammation, and the hair is broken off at a level of 1 - 2 mm.
• Seborrheic form microsporia is characterized by thinning of hair in some areas of the head. In the area of ​​such hair thinning, skin is visible, covered with a large number of yellowish scales. If the scales are removed, fragments of a small amount of hair become visible underneath them.

These rare forms of microsporia of the scalp are almost always associated with increased body temperature, inflammation of the lymph nodes of the neck and symptoms of intoxication (headache, weakness, lethargy, etc.).

Anthroponotic microsporia

Anthroponotic microsporia most often develops in children. On smooth skin it appears as round or oval lesions with a clear boundary, within which numerous scales are visible. The border of the lesion is formed by bubbles and nodules.

On the scalp, lesions are located at the border of hair growth in the area of ​​the back of the head, crown and temples. As a rule, part of the lesion is located in the hair growth area, and part is on smooth skin. Such lesions are small, vague, with clear boundaries and peeling inside the spot. When located close to each other, the lesions can merge, forming one large, bizarrely shaped lesion area. In the area of ​​the lesions, the hair breaks off at a level of 4–6 mm and looks short-cut.

Zoonotic and geophilic microsporia

Multiple small (0.5 - 3 mm in diameter) reddish-pink scaly spots of round or oval shape with clear boundaries appear on smooth skin. The inner surface of the spots is covered with flaky scales. Over time, new ones appear right within the perimeter of old lesions, forming a characteristic “ring within a ring” pattern, which is a hallmark of microsporia.

When the scalp is damaged, large lesions are formed, located strictly in the hair growth zone. The lesions are round or oval in shape, have clear boundaries and are covered with whitish scales. The hair in the lesion is broken off at a height of 6–8 mm, and the protruding fragments are covered with a white sheath of fungal spores.

Nail microsporia

Nail microsporia is extremely rare. This form includes lesions on the palms, soles and nails. When a nail is damaged, a dull spot forms on it in the area of ​​the growth crescent. Over time, the spot becomes white, and the nail in this part becomes fragile, soft and thinned. Quite often the affected part of the nail is destroyed.

Microsporia - photo

This photograph shows numerous lesions of smooth skin microsporia.

This photograph shows a microsporia lesion in a child.

This photograph shows a focus of microsporia on the scalp.

Diagnosis of microsporia

Diagnosis of microsporia is based on examining the lesions, first with the naked eye, and then through a fluorescent lamp. After this, if necessary, microscopic or cultural examinations are performed to confirm the diagnosis and accurately determine the type of fungal infection.

The method for diagnosing microsporia through a fluorescent lamp (Wood's lamp) is very simple - a doctor in a darkened room examines the affected area illuminated by such a device. Skin and hair affected by fungus in the light of a Wood's lamp flicker bright green. The reason for this phenomenon is not clear, but it allows you to quickly and accurately diagnose microsporia.

If necessary, the doctor can carefully scrape off a small amount of scales from the affected area with a blunt scalpel and examine them under a microscope, conducting a microscopic examination accordingly. Before scraping off the scales, the skin in the affected area is wiped with 96% alcohol. After this, only scales are scraped off from smooth skin, and hair fragments from the scalp. All collected material is placed on a glass slide, filled with a drop of 20% potassium hydroxide solution and examined under a microscope after 30 minutes.

With microsporia, twisted threads of mycelium are visible in the scales, and on the surface of the hair there are numerous spores attached to it like small balls along the entire outer perimeter. Due to the spores, the border of the hair is not clear, but blurred.

The cultural method for diagnosing microsporia is used when microscopic and luminescent results are positive in order to identify the type of fungus that causes it. Sometimes this is necessary to determine the optimal treatment strategy. For the cultural method, scales are removed from the affected area and placed on a nutrient medium. In the presence of microsporia, a colony grows on the medium in the form of a flat disk with a fluff on the surface.

In most cases, to diagnose microsporia, it is sufficient to examine the affected area through a Wood's lamp and subsequent microscopic examination.

Microsporia - treatment

General principles of therapy

If only smooth skin is affected by microsporia, and the vellus hair on it remains intact, then treatment with local antifungal drugs (ointments, lotions, sprays), which are applied daily until the lesions disappear, is sufficient.

If foci of microsporia are located on the scalp or vellus hairs of smooth skin are involved in the process, then treatment consists of taking antifungal drugs internally and applying them externally to the affected areas.

Most effective for oral administration for the treatment of microsporia, antifungal drugs containing the following active substances:

• Griseofulvin;
• Terbinafine (Terbizil, Lamisil, etc.);
• Itraconazole (Orungal, Irunin, etc.).

For external processing smooth skin and scalp, the following agents with antifungal activity are used:

• Ointments with terbinafine (Lamisil, Terbizil, etc.), clotrimazole, isoconazole and bifonazole;
• Tincture of iodine 2 – 5%;
• Sulfuric ointment 10 – 20%;
• Sulfur-salicylic ointment;
• Sulfur-tar ointment.

Taking antifungal drugs orally and applying them externally to the affected skin continues for a week after the symptoms of microsporia disappear to avoid a possible relapse of the infection.

During the entire period of therapy, the sick person should use separate towels, sponges, combs and other personal hygiene and household items, and not share them with other people. All things worn by a person suffering from microsporia should be washed with ordinary powder at a water temperature of 60 o C, which is sufficient to kill the fungal spores. Boil all the items he used for 15 minutes in water. Drawers, cartons and other containers where things of a person suffering from microsporia were stored should be treated with the antifungal disinfectant Terralin.

Microsporia of smooth skin and scalp - treatment

If vellus hair on smooth skin is affected, then treatment consists of taking antifungal drugs internally and applying them externally to the lesions. If vellus hair is not affected, then only local treatment is carried out, which consists of external application of antifungal agents. Treatment of microsporia of the scalp is always carried out by a combination of taking antifungal agents internally and applying them externally to the lesions.

So, the following drugs should be taken orally to treat microsporia:

• Griseofulvin. The dosage is calculated individually from the ratio of 22 mg per 1 kg of body weight. The calculated amount is divided by 3 and taken 3 times a day with a spoonful of oil for 2 to 6 weeks. Once a week, a scraping from the affected area is submitted for analysis. After the scraping result for fungi is negative, Griseofulvin is taken for another 2 weeks at the same dose every other day. Then for another 2 weeks at the same dose the tablets are taken every 3 days.
• Terbinafine. Take 250–500 mg once a day for 4–6 weeks.
• Itraconazole. Take 100–200 mg 1 time per day for 4 weeks.

In parallel with taking the above medications internally, foci of microsporia should be treated daily with external agents. It is preferable to use different means for external treatment of microsporia foci in the morning and evening. For example, in the morning, tincture of iodine, and in the evening - Lamisil, or in the morning - sulfur ointment, and in the evening - Isoconazole, etc.

If there is severe inflammation on the skin, then in the first 3 to 5 days of therapy it is necessary to treat them once a day with Travocort ointment, which contains a hormone with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. When the inflammation decreases, you should switch to using any other antifungal ointment (Travogen, Zalain, Lamisil, Terbizil, Terbinafine, etc.).

Hair from smooth skin should be shaved once a week or epilated with a special patch containing griseofulvin. For microsporia of the scalp, before starting treatment, you should shave the hair from the affected area, and do this 1-2 times a week until the end of the course of therapy. You should also wash your hair 1-2 times a week with tar soap or pharmaceutical shampoo containing selenium sulfide, ketoconazole or povidone-iodine.

Treatment of microsporia in children

In children, microsporia is treated according to the same schemes and principles as in adults. However, the optimal drug for oral administration is Terbinafine (Lamisil, Terbizil, etc.), which should be used in the absence of any contraindications. Pediatric Terbinafine oral dosages are determined by their body weight:

• Children weighing 10 – 20 kg – take 3/4 tablets (94 mg) of Terbinafine 125 mg 1 time per day;
• Children weighing 20 – 40 kg – take 1.5 tablets (187 mg) of Terbinafine 125 mg once a day;
• Children weighing over 40 kg – take 2 tablets (250 mg) of Terbinafine once a day.

These dosages are 50% higher than those recommended by the manufacturer, however, they turned out to be the most effective in the treatment of microsporia according to clinical observations and use in children's hospitals.

Itraconazole and Griseofulvin are not recommended for use in children due to their high toxicity.

External treatment of affected areas in the treatment of microsporia in children is carried out with the same drugs as in adults. The optimal ointment for children is Clotrimazole or Lamisil.

Disease prevention

Prevention of microsporia consists of timely identification and treatment of sick people, as well as limiting contact with animals. When microsporia is detected in someone's family, then all other people who are in close contact with him should undergo a preventive examination using a Wood's lamp. All pets should also be examined and treated if necessary.

Microsporia: pathogens, routes of infection, signs (symptoms), treatment and prevention - video

Microsporia is transmitted by contact through living and non-living objects that are contaminated with spores or infected with a fungus. The likelihood of infection increases if the skin has scratches, diaper rash, calluses and microtraumas., but for healthy skin the fungus is not dangerous, in addition, the virulence of microsporia is very low - it is impossible to get sick from it if you wash your hands with soap immediately after contact with an infected object.

Microsporia is often diagnosed in people who frequently come into contact with stray animals and land. In most cases, victims knew how the fungus was transmitted and tried to follow basic hygiene rules, but they played a fatal role in the development of fungal infection. individual characteristics of the chemical composition of human sweat and sebum.

Microsporia in humans: symptoms and signs

Once an infection enters the body, it usually appears after an incubation period. This is also typical for microsporia, the signs of which sometimes appear only a month and a half after infection.

The main symptom of smooth skin microsporia is red spots with a clear contour and a swollen convex surface. The spots tend to grow and over time take on the appearance of intersecting or intersecting rings (up to three centimeters in diameter), the surface of which is covered with bubbles and crusts. The number of rings is limited - usually there are no more than five pieces.

If a fungal infection occurs on , then it first affects the follicle and then spreads to the entire hair, and fungal spores are deposited between the scales of the cuticle, causing its damage. A striking symptom of microsporia is a “cover” of mecelium (mycelium) surrounding the hair shaft and filling the follicle. The lesions are usually one or two large spots with adjacent smaller formations. The skin in the affected area peels off (white, ring-shaped scales), and the hair easily breaks off, forming “stumps” up to six millimeters high, “powdered” with fungal spores.

The external manifestations of the fungus in children and women are similar - they are characterized by severe inflammation and moderate peeling. It is most difficult to diagnose microsporia in a timely manner in people suffering from atopic dermatitis, because the diseases have similar symptoms, but are treated completely differently: for atopic dermatitis, the use of hormonal ointments is indicated, which for microsporia are not only useless, but also dangerous, as they contribute to the further spread of the infection.

Attention! A late visit to the doctor is fraught with the development of a suppurative form of microsporia, the symptoms of which, namely: nodules that are soft to the touch, bluish skin color and a scattering of ulcers, significantly worsen the appearance of the skin and the patient’s well-being.

Diagnosis of microsporia

Usually, for a preliminary diagnosis, a doctor needs only an examination and information from the patient that he has handled or stroked a stray animal, for example, a kitten. However, in order to confirm the diagnosis, you should take a scraping for microsporia and make sure that the material taken from the patient’s skin actually contains particles of the fungus. Microscopic examinations can confirm the presence of a fungal infection, but cannot accurately determine the type of pathogen. Much more information is provided by an analysis for microsporia, which consists of inoculating material taken from the patient and subsequent examination, including using fluorescent lamps.

Reference. A greenish glow emanates from the mycelium of a mushroom placed under a fluorescent lamp - it may be absent at the beginning, but by the end of the incubation period it certainly appears.

Microsporia localization zones (photo)

Microsporia affects the smooth skin of the face, scalp and body. Fingernails and toenails, as a rule, do not suffer from this type of mycosis.

Consequences of microsporia. How dangerous is the disease?

Microsporia is a contagious disease, the severity of which depends on the type and activity of the fungus, as well as on the condition of the skin and the body as a whole. Usually life threatening fungus does not represent, but creates a lot of problems for the patient: spots on the skin have to be hidden from others, which is not always possible; itching, which in some cases can be quite severe and deprives you of peace; the sick person (especially a child) is subjected to ridicule and experiences difficulties with social adaptation. Microsporia does not cause any serious consequences - if proper treatment is carried out, relapses, as a rule, do not occur. However, re-infection is possible, since the causative agent of the disease can survive on household items for up to ten years. The danger is represented by an advanced form of microsporia, in which the fungus penetrates the dermis and provokes the formation of ulcers.

Attention! Microsporia can lead to scarring changes in the skin tissue and, as a result, to.

Typically, treatment of microsporia does not cause problems and is carried out with the simultaneous use of external agents and preparations for internal use. But microsporia during pregnancy is treated exclusively with external means, since antifungal drugs taken orally can harm the fetus. Pregnant women are recommended to apply Lamikon, Clotrimazole or Ketoconazole ointments daily, and if the scalp is affected, use special shampoos, for example, Nizoral.

Types of microsporia

• Anthroponotic microsporia rarely found in Russia; affects the stratum corneum of the epidermis and the scalp; the source of infection is a sick (infected) person and the household items he uses (clothing, towels, bed linen, hats, etc.).
• Zooanthroponotic microsporia It is much more widespread than the anthropogenic one; it is carried by stray animals, most often cats and their offspring. A person infected with zooanthroponotic microsporia (as well as his personal belongings) becomes a source of infection and is capable of infecting others.

Modern treatment of microsporia

How quickly microsporia can be cured depends on the degree of damage to the skin; the best result is achieved by the simultaneous use of local agents (creams, ointments, emulsions, mash) and oral antifungal drugs. If the patient has severe inflammation, combination medications are used, which contain antifungal substances, antibiotics and hormones. For the treatment of advanced cases of microsporia, complicated by secondary infection, especially with deep damage to the skin, preparations containing dimexide are used.

We have already mentioned the incubation period of microsporia and the associated inability to begin treatment immediately after infection. Unfortunately, you have to wait until the infection manifests itself and only then fight the “taken root” colonies of skin fungi. To monitor the effectiveness of the treatment for microsporia, samples are taken every week - the patient is considered to have gotten rid of the fungal infection if three samples give a negative result.

Microsporia: prevention and safety measures

Since children most often suffer from microsporia, it is advisable to conduct examinations in kindergartens and schools and identify carriers of the fungal infection. You should remember about disinfection - microsporia pathogens are killed by washing your hands with soap or treating the skin with alcohol lotions. You should not pick up, stroke, or even bring homeless animals into your home. This does not mean that you need to suppress the natural desire to help, for example, a kitten - it’s just that the veterinarian should get to know him first, and only then can the pet be adopted into the family. The same applies to buying an animal from someone else.

How is microsporia treated: drugs and devices used

Name of drug or procedure	Action
Griseofulvin, Terbinafine, Itraconazole, Fluconazole - tablets for microsporia	fungistatic (antifungal effect);
Isoconazole - cream for microsporia	suppression of pathogenic microflora;
Bifonazole - cream, spray, solution, powder	antifungal effect (damages the cell membranes of various types of fungi);
Clotrimazole cream	slows down the growth of microorganisms;
Potassium permanganate, Furacilin, Ichthyol	antiseptics, which are used to relieve inflammation in cases of infiltrative-suppurative form of microsporia;
Wood's lamp illumination for microsporia	used to detect fungal infection.

Treatment of microsporia is usually carried out on an outpatient basis, but in cases where a person needs to be isolated or a complicated form of the disease is diagnosed, the patient is hospitalized. Microsporia can be treated for quite a long time - up to three months, it is recommended to shave off the hair (if the scalp is affected) to facilitate the use of external medications. A special role is given to the nutrition of a patient with ringworm - it is important to support and protect the body while fighting the infection, and for this it is necessary to exclude all possible allergens and alcohol. You should not include fatty, fried and smoked foods in your diet, because... Since antifungal drugs have a bad effect on the liver, it is necessary to reduce the load on this organ.

Attention! Self-medication of microsporia is unacceptable, since incorrectly selected drugs will aggravate the situation and can provoke the transition of the disease to the chronic stage. Herbal infusions and homemade ointments can be used as additional antifungal therapy, but only with the approval of a dermatologist!

Microsporia in children and adults

There are two types of ringworm: trichophytosis, caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton, and microsporia, described above. In both cases, a person’s smooth skin and scalp are affected, since the causative agent of the fungal disease requires keratin protein for growth and reproduction - it is from this that hair and the stratum corneum of the epidermis are built. The clinical pictures of trichophytosis and microsporia are somewhat different, but in general the diseases develop according to the same pattern - infection from a stray animal (the main source of fungal infection), the incubation period, the appearance of spots on the skin, brittle hair and the formation of bald spots.

Since children are more likely to come into contact with stray animals, they are more likely to get sick (both microsporia and trichophytosis, because the child’s immunity is too weak to repel the attack of infectious agents) in contrast to adults, in whom the diagnosis of “ringworm” is rarely confirmed, by the way. largely thanks to the presence of an antagonist fungus on the skin that suppresses the proliferation of pathogenic fungi. In addition, the fat produced by the sebaceous glands of an adult contains special substances (for example, undecylenic acid) that block the development of harmful microflora. Although exposure to conditions of elevated temperature and humidity, weakened immunity due to illness, prolonged treatment with antibiotics, cytostatics and hormonal drugs, skin injuries and pregnancy are factors that provoke the development of microsporia and trichophytosis.

Microsporia: video