The following symptoms and complaints may indicate tinea (dermatophytosis/dermatomycosis):
Initially, tinea may cause circumscribed redness that lightens centrally and spreads centrifugally as the disease progresses.
Leading symptoms of tinea capitis (“head fungus”).
- Redness, massive scaling (pityriasiform scaling: fine, small-shaped scales; head scales).
- Painful, weeping, purulent and furuncle-like skin area.
- Alopecia (hair loss): usually not permanent; only rarely permanent hair loss in tinea capitis profunda.
Note: The clinical picture of tinea capitis can vary greatly – it depends on the type of pathogen and the immunity situation of the patient.
A contagious special form of tinea capitis is the microsporiasis. It can spread from the head to the whole body.
Leading symptoms of tinea corporis et faciei (“body and facial fungus”).
- Initially circumscribed folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) with redness, minor scaling, extending centrifugally.
- Slightly raised edges
Leading symptoms of tinea manuum (“hand fungus”).
- Dyshidrosiform form – itchy vesicles, especially on the palm of the hand.
- Hyperkeratotic-squamous form – vesicles that dry up and then become scaly foci, rhagades, especially on the palm of the hand; painful
Tinea manuum is often localized on one side.
Leading symptoms of tinea inguinalis (“groin fungus”).
- Red spots on the inner thigh, unilateral or bilateral, peripheral inflammatory scaling rim.
- Genitals / buttocks may be affected with
- Burning of the affected skin areas
Leading symptoms of tinea pedis (“athlete’s foot“).
- Interdigital form – toe interdigits with softened skin, redness, scaling to rhagades.
- Squamous-hyperkeratotic form (moccasin mycosis) – fine dry scaling localized on inflamed skin on the soles of the feet; up to rhagades.
- Vesicular-dyshidrotic form – vesicles in the area of the arch of the foot, feeling of tension, itching.
Other indications
- In the genitoanal area, dermatophytes (filamentous fungi) most commonly affect the inguinal and gluteal region (groin and buttock region).
- If the mucous membranes (mouth, esophagus) are affected, it is usually candida yeast (candidiasis, candidiasis).
- From the tinea capitis (head fungus) are mostly children affected.
