Tinea Infections: Types and Treatment Considerations (Nursing)

00:00 Tinea infections are named according to the body site affected, with tinea being the Latin word for worm.

00:07 This refers to the worm-like appearance of the ringworm lesions.

00:11 Now, let's review some of the most common types.

00:14 Tinea pedis, this is athlete's foot.

00:16 It affects the feet, it's particularly between the toes, and it presents with scaling, fissuring, and maceration.

00:23 Now, topical treatment typically continues for two to four weeks.

00:27 Tinea corporis is ringworm.

00:29 It affects the trunk and limbs, and it creates these circular lesions with raised borders and a central clearing.

00:35 Treatment for this also usually lasts about two to four weeks.

00:39 Tinea curis is also known as jock itch.

00:41 Now, this affects the groin area with a red and itchy rash.

00:44 Now, like tinea corporis, treatment generally lasts two to four weeks for jock itch.

00:50 Tinea capitis is scalp ringworm.

00:52 Now, this affects the scalp and the eyebrows, and this often requires oral therapy because the hair follicles are involved.

00:59 So treatment with oral antifungals typically lasts for six to eight weeks.

01:04 Onychomycosis affects the nails and requires specialized treatments, which we'll discuss next.

01:10 Now, when a treatment is being selected, these are the things that are considered, the location and severity of the infection, patient factors such as age and comorbidities, previous treatment response, and cost considerations.

01:24 So, how might we approach treatment differently for a patient with tinea pitis versus one with tinea capitis? Well, tinea pitis can often be treated with topical agents alone, while tinea capitis frequently requires oral therapy because topical medications can't penetrate that hair shaft effectively.