tinea
[tin´e-ah] ringworm; any of numerous different fungal infections of the skin; the specific type (depending on characteristic appearance, etiologic agent and site) usually is designated by a modifying term.
tinea bar´bae ringworm of the beard, seen on bearded parts of the face and neck; caused by
Trichophyton. tinea ca´pitis ringworm of the scalp, a fungal infection caused by various species of
Microsporum and
Trichophyton. Generally it is characterized by one or more small, round, elevated patches, scaling of the scalp, and dry and brittle hair.
tinea cor´poris a fungal infection of the glabrous (smooth) skin, usually due to species of
Microsporum or
Trichophyton. tinea fa´ciei ringworm of the face, seen on non-hairy areas of the face, often with a similar presentation to that of
tinea corporis.
tinea imbrica´ta a distinctive type of
tinea corporis occurring in tropical countries and caused by
Trichophyton concentricum. The early lesion is circular, surrounded by a ring of scales attached along one edge; several new and larger scaling rings form later.
tinea ma´nus (
tinea ma´nuum) ringworm of the hand, usually involving the interdigital spaces and palmar surfaces of the hands; it almost always accompanies
tinea pedis, with the same etiologic agent for both infections.
tinea un´guium tinea involving the nails; the invasion may be restricted to white patches or pits on the nail surface, or the lateral or distal edges of the nail may be involved first, followed by establishment of the infection beneath the nail plate.
tinea versi´color a chronic, usually asymptomatic disorder due to
Malassezia furfur, marked only by multiple macular patches. Called also
pityriasis versicolor.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.