![]() “Rarely humans can transmit the disease to animals. Itching and burning are typical symptoms,” says Russell.Ĭommunity swimming pools, used towels, health clubs, steam rooms and showers are common areas where athlete’s foot can be contracted. The rash most often appears in the moist areas between the toes, though the rest of the foot can be infected as well. “Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, is the most common form of ringworm found in humans and the most difficult to treat. Many times this occurs from sharing hairbrushes or combs, and unless someone’s immune system is highly compromised then the disease is not life threatening. The anthropophilic ringworm is mostly seen in developing countries such as Africa, or parts of Asia by human to human transmission. “Fungi that mostly live in human skin are called ‘anthropophilic’, those that live on animals are called ‘zoophilic’, and those that prefer to live in soil are called ‘geophilic’ fungi,” explains Russell. With children it is often found in the scalp region. Humans can contract ringworm from animals very easily by touching the infected area directly or through contact with objects which have been exposed contaminated with the fungus or its spores.Īnimal ringworm types, usually from a dog, cat, or rodent are more likely to be transmitted to young children. Ringworm is highly contagious and can pass from person to person either through direct contact, through contact with an infected object, contact with an infected pet or infected soil. Leon Russell, professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Where the infection occurs on the skin there will be a bald patch, but sometimes they may just have a few broken hairs,” says Dr. “Household pets generally pick up the disease from other animals. The lesion will not always be in the shape of a ring, but it will appear scaly in the center with a red irritated color on the periphery. We also offer UV-A blacklight bulbs with no filter for other common lighting applications, including other phototherapy and medical uses.It may be surprising for some to learn that the skin infection known as ringworm, or dermatophytosis, is not actually a worm or parasite at all, but a fungus. We offer a wide array of blacklight replacement lamps, including in many different sizes and wattages. True Woods lamps fluoresce at this ~360nm wavelength, according to Shelter Medicine, which also advises against using a generic ultraviolet light in the tool. The common blacklight blue bulb has a peak wavelength of 368nm and a total UV output that dpeends on the wattage of the bulb. They are also made in a wide range of shapes, lengths, and bases, so can be used in numerous types of equipment, large or small. These bulbs can be incandescent, but fluorescent type lamps are much more common due to being more efficient than incandescent. If you suspect a fungal infection in your pet, always seek proper veterinary care.Īlthough blacklights can have no filter, the more widely recognized version is a UVA bulb with dark blue filter. It should be noted that, according to PetMD, not every case of ringworm can be diagnosed with a blacklight, as some types of fungi do not fluoresce. Bacterial infections can be coral red, yellow-green, orange, or other colors. The color of ringworm under a Woods Lamp is a bright apple green, which may show under a blacklight with a blue filter in a darkened room. Using light is a simple way to detect ringworm, although not the only way. As the fungus (or bacteria) absorbs the ultraviolet light from the blacklight bulb, it emits a color in response. This UVA radiation, at 365-368nm, can cause fungal and bacterial infections to appear to change color on a human's or animal's skin or hide.įluorescence is a colored glow that is emitted by a substance that absorbs light or electromagnetic radiation from an outside source. The dark blue filter removes most of the visible light, leaving only the ultraviolet radiation. By shining patches of skin and fur under the UV light, vets can see the fungus.Īlthough the material used to make the original Wood's lamps have been replaced with different optical filtering materials, the concept has remained the same. The fungus that causes ringworm fluoresces under the ultraviolet light from the blacklight. The most common tool veterinarians use to diagnose ringworm on pets is a Wood's Lamp, which is another name for the common blacklight bulb with a blue filter.Īccording to Wikipedia, Wood's lamps have been used since 1925 to detect fungal infections in hair. These bulbs are very common for diagnosing ringworm in cats, dogs, and other animals. They also have an important clinical use by veterinarians. Blacklights are not merely for special effects and lighting up cool posters.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |