Trichophyton tonsurans

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Trichophyton tonsurans

Trichophyton tonsurans (pronunciation: trik-oh-FY-ton ton-SUR-ans) is a dermatophyte fungus that is one of the leading causes of tinea capitis, a type of fungal infection that affects the scalp.

Etymology

The name Trichophyton is derived from the Greek words tricho meaning "hair" and phyton meaning "plant". Tonsurans is derived from the Latin word tonsura, meaning "shearing" or "clipping", which refers to the hair loss often associated with infections caused by this fungus.

Description

Trichophyton tonsurans is a microscopic fungus that primarily infects the hair shaft and the outer layer of skin. It is one of the most common causes of tinea capitis in children, particularly in urban areas. The fungus can also cause tinea corporis, a fungal infection of the body, and tinea cruris, a fungal infection of the groin area.

Symptoms

Infections caused by Trichophyton tonsurans can result in a variety of symptoms, including itching, redness, and scaling of the skin. In severe cases, it can cause hair loss and inflammation of the scalp, known as kerion.

Treatment

Treatment for infections caused by Trichophyton tonsurans typically involves the use of antifungal medications, such as griseofulvin or terbinafine. In some cases, topical antifungal creams may also be used.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski