Tinea Corporis= Ringworm

http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm/article.htm

In the past, Tinea Corporis was known as "ringworm", because people thought a worm caused it. After many investigations, results showed that a fungus caused this infection. Tinea Corporis is the medical term for "ringworm on the body" because it can infect different areas of the body, such as the scalp and the nails. Therefore, getting other names like "Tinea capitis, refers to scalp ringworm, tinea corporis to fungus of the body, tinea pedis to fungus of the feet, and so on" (Stoppler). Tinea Corporis looks like a series of rings, like those that show the age of a tree.

What is Tinea Corporis?

Tinea Corporis is a fungal infection that occurs on the skin. Athletes are at a high risk of infection because all the sweat and warmth of their body makes it a wonderful place to spread. Athletes are always at a higher risk of getting infected by many different infections due to their exposure to different surfaces and constant contact to other players.

How can one get Tinea Corporis?

Like any skin infection, ringworm can spread through direct contact with other people and infected surfaces. "Ringworm may be spread by touching pool or gym surfaces, wrestling mats, and shower stalls" (Tinea Corporis, Drugs.com).

How can one treat Tineas Corporis?

Ringworm is typically treated with creams that contain Miconazole, Clotrimazole and/or Ketoconazole (Ringworm- Tinea Corporis, About.com). These are over-the-counter creams, and can also be found next to creams for skin infections like Athlete's Foot.

MRSA

http://ilovebacteria.com/mrsa.htm

As an athlete, one may think that the most catastrophic thing that can happen is getting a severe physical injury, but one never stops to think that there is more out there that can keep you out of the game for a long time. Skin infections, such as MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), are among those that can prevent you from playing.

What is MRSA?

MRSA is "a gram-positive bacterium that colonizes on the skin" (Saben, 33). This infection is common among athletes. Most do not know that they are infected. It appears like a small, red pimple that later grows into a boil and collects pus. MRSA not only infects skin tissue but lung and muscle tissue, as well as blood. This is life-threatening for the infected person.

How can one get MRSA?

MRSA transmits through direct contact, either by touching an infected person or by wearing infected clothing. Athletes are the most at risk of getting infected due to their constant exposure to other athletes, sharing of personal equipment, "public" locker rooms, and showers. The athletes at a higher risk of infection are football players and wrestlers.

How can one treat MRSA?

MRSA can be treated with antibiotics such astrimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Saben, 35). It is best and easier to treat at an early stage. MRSA is highly contagious "with published reports of up to 70% of infected team members requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics" (D.J., 557-562).

Watch this video for more detailed information about MRSA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnb0XuGJJ_g

Identifying the Enemy: How to Play Defense on Trichophyton rubrum by Just Changing Your Socks.

When I started my basketball career, my parents warned me about Athlete's Foot. I have known about Athlete's Foot since I was little because my dad was a victim. My dad thought it would go away if he kept his feet dry after his workouts, but instead, it progressed to his nails. It was the ugliest thing in the world! It was so bad that he needed medicine to treat his Athlete's Foot. The medicine is also pretty expensive. That's one of the reasons why, every time I prepared my practice gear: shoes, socks, and ankle braces for practice, my dad would hand me an extra pair of socks and say, "Don't forget the extra. I betcha you don't want to deal with fungi on your feet?"

I certainly DID NOT want to deal with that. In the locker room after practice, I'd always change my socks. It felt good to wear dry, clean socks after practice (especially after my 5-7 pm practices during the winter!). Changing the socks you used during practice to some nice, dry socks can make the difference between getting sick (yes, it's cold during the winter and that sweat can make you sick, even if you're wearing a coat), and getting Athlete's Foot.

When I see people bare-footed in public showers, my first reaction is pure shock, what are they thinking? Don't they know what's on the floor of the showers? Ew!

All my life I have known that the fungi that commonly resides on people's feet is known as "Athlete's foot." After some research, I have found out that this microorganism is called Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum). T rubrum resides on the soles of your feet, the palms of your hands, in between your toes and fingers, and is highly contagious. You can get Athlete's Foot by direct contact with an infected person, contact with infected clothes (especifically socks and shoes), and by not using flip-flops in public baths and pools.

T ruburm thrives in warm and moist environments. So the soles of your feet are perfect victims, since people use closed-toed shoes with socks all the time. You are more likely to be infected by T rubrumwhen you keep your feet wet for a long period of time. For example, when you finish practice and you do not change your socks until you get home, after hanging out with your friends for two hours.

In sports, some coaches believe in the idea that "the best defense is a good offense." In order to make a good attack, you have to know the enemy very well. Now that you know how this fungus attacks your feet, you can take some steps to prevent it from residing on your feet by doing the following:

*Change your socks and shoes after exercising.

*Keep your feet dry as much as you can.

*When going to a public pool or shower, always wear flip flops.

There is always a risk that you can get Athlete's Foot returning after you have gotten rid of it. If you take care of your feet it will usually go away, but in case it returns, visit your dermatologist. Over-the-counter creams can also help you rid of Athlete's Foot

And remember, dry feet are happy feet :) Being aware of the slightest changes, like changing your socks after your workout, can make a great difference for your skin health.

Letter to the Editor About Staph

Dear editor,

During my search for my microbes assignment on sports, I came across the article "Staph and Community Acquired MRSA Infections in Athletes.” I read it and it provides a good background about Staph, which included that it can be resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin. It also included how athletes are vulnerable to getting Staph, its symptoms, and ways for athletes to prevent gaining this infection.
All the tips you provided were pretty good except the one that said “Avoid contact with other athletes who have wounds.” This is kind of inevitable because most of the time, one cannot tell whether someone has cuts or wounds because they can be too small to tell and/or one can be so focused on the game that it is impossible to be thinking “I wonder whether this person I’m guarding has an infected wound. I better get away and let him score.”
I have been playing basketball ever since second grade. I have played over a hundred games, and from my experience, even the person with the wound will not notice they have a cut until after the game. Cuts, scratches, and wounds can also happen during the game and that does not mean a person is infected. This mentality takes away the entire aspect of “going hard” and excitement of the game because it makes people afraid of getting Staph, thus making the game boring because the players would be afraid of coming into contact with each other.
Of course, an athlete with a serious wound infection will not be able to play because the fever and rash (visible symptoms of Staph). Even the referees will not allow that player to play because they are in charge of the safety of all the players on (playing) and off (on the bench) the court. Their coach is also responsible to know about the health of its student-athletes, not to the point that he or she knows of a minuscule cut on the arm, but enough to know whether the player is in good condition to play and will not mean a health hazard to other players.
Your article was very helpful and informational, but just that little detail bugged me and I needed to let you know the other side to that tip. It can be taken too seriously by some people and could kill the sport’s ambition in some people.

Sincerely,
Hilda Reyes-Saehb

Emulated blog:

Quinn, Elizabeth . "Staph and Community Acquired MRSA Infections in Athletes." about.com. 29 Oct. 2008.<sportsmedicine.about.com/od/injuryprevention/a/MRSA_Staph.htm>.

Picture http://www.insaneballhandling.com/2010/09/defensive-drills-to-further-improve-your-game/