Tinea (dermatophytosis) refers to a chronic superficial fungal skin disease. Only rarely does the disease penetrate deeper layers of the skin – dermis (dermis; below the epidermis), subcutis (hypodermis; below the dermis)).
The disease is usually caused by dermatophytes (filamentous fungi).
In addition to tinea, other forms of mycoses (fungal diseases) can be distinguished by the following pathogens:
- Trichophytia, microsporiasis, favus caused by dermatophytes.
- Candidamycosis/candidosis, pityriasis versicolor due to Malassezia furfur (yeast/protozoan fungi).
- Onychomycosis, piedra nigra, tinea nigra by molds.
- Chromomycosis, sporotrichosis, mycetoma as deep mycoses.
- Cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis as systemic mycoses.
In tinea, the following forms can be distinguished:
- Tinea barbae, -capitis (ICD-10 B35.0) – mycosis (fungal infection) of the beard (beard lichen); of the head (tinea capitis), this usually affects children.
- Tinea barbae: mainly caused by Tinea rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, M. canis, E. floccosum.
- Tinea capitis: Microsporum canis; increasingly also Trichophyton tonsurans.
- Tinea unguium (B35.1) – mycosis of the nails [see below the topic of the same name].
- Tinea manuum (B35.2) – superficial acute/chronic mycosis of one hand, sometimes both hands.
- By tinea rubrum
- Occurrence: The infection occurs worldwide.
- Tinea pedis (B35.3) – mycosis of the soles of the feet/interdigital spaces between the toes [see below the topic of the same name].
- Predominantly due to tinea rubrum, tinea interdigitale.
- Can be the starting point for further fungal infection of the body!
- Occurrence: The infection occurs worldwide.
- The pathogens T. rubrum and T. interdigitale are able to survive for many months in dry conditions.
- Human-to-human transmission: Yes, via shoes, stockings, floor surfaces.
- Tinea corporis (B35.4) – mycosis of the trunk – especially at contact sites on the arms and torso and in the anal and inguinal (groin) regions
- By T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, M. canis, E. floccosum.
- Tinea imbricata (B35.5) – mycosis of the body characterized by cocard-like foci.
- Tinea cruris (-inguinalis; B35.6) – mycosis of the lower leg (inguinal lichen).
- By tinea rubrum, tinea mentagrophytes, E. floccosum.
- Sex ratio: males are more commonly affected than females.
- Other dermatophytoses (B35.8) – e.g., tinea genitalis (mycosis of the genital area).
The transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) is, depending on the exact type (disease), from person to person, via intermediate objects, as well as from animal to human.
The incubation period (time from infection to the outbreak of the disease) is different or mostly unknown.
Frequency peak: Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophytosis (skin diseases caused by filamentous fungi, the so-called dermatophytes) in childhood: disease peak is between the 3rd and 7th year of life.
The prevalence (disease frequency) for tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) is 30% and for tinea unguium (nail fungus) 12.4% in Germany. In children, the prevalence is 5-15%.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) for children is approximately 25 cases per 1,000 children per year.
Course and prognosis: With adequate therapy, the prognosis is good. The disease heals without leaving a trace. If the disease remains untreated, it takes a chronic course. It must be taken into account that the affected person can infect other people. The disease can take a complicated course in children and immunodeficient persons. Here, organs can then also be affected by the fungal infection.
