Guide To The Causes, Risk Factors, And Transmission Of Ringworm

Soil To Human

Most individuals contract ringworm from one of the previously discussed transmission methods. However, this condition can also spread from soil to humans. This can happen because some of the fungi responsible for this infection can live and infect soil. However, in order for humans to contract ringworm from the soil, they must have prolonged exposure to and contact with infected soil. In addition, many experts believe that the soil must also be highly contaminated, not just mildly, for transmission to occur. In most cases, animals will contract the infection from the soil and pass it on to humans instead.

Sharing With Infected Individuals

Sharing certain objects with someone infected with ringworm can cause an individual to contract the fungal infection. Objects in the home and public places that have been contaminated by someone infected with ringworm can allow for the easy transmission of the fungus to another individual. Everyday objects shared between individuals that are most often implicated in the transmission of ringworm include hairbrushes, sheets, pillowcases, tennis shoes, bath towels, razors, shower loofahs, sponges, and athletic gear.

Fungi that cause a ringworm infection tend to grow around the shaft of an individual's hair and on their superficial skin layers. The fungi produce infective arthrospores distributed in large numbers through the skin cells and hair shed from an infected individual's body. These arthrospores can stay infectious from several months to several years on nonliving objects, depending on their environment. Arthrospores cannot penetrate through dry and healthy skin but use the vulnerabilities of mucous membrane exposure and lacerations on the skin when they come in contact with the body.