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Signs & Symptoms of Swine Ringworm

Swine ringworm is a fungal infection caused by an exposure to the tinea parasite. What happens is an individual would come into direct contact with a pig (as well as another person or animal) infected with the microorganism. It passes into the skin where it feeds off the epidermis. As soon as the infection takes place, a person will begin to develop clear signs and symptoms of the ringworm.

  1. Rash

    • For most people infected by ringworm, they will first develop the symptom of a rash. But unlike the common rash, it will appear as a red, raised circular formation on the skin. Inside this ring, the skin will appear quite normal and unaffected by the inflammation, lending to its name of ringworm. A person may suffer from this rash almost anywhere on his body, but it is usually seen on the face and midsection of the body.

    Dry Patch

    • For other people infected by ringworm, this ring won't be as visible. In this situation the individual begins to develop circular patches of dry, itchy skin where the red ring that is most commonly seen will be so faint that it is undetectable to the naked eye. But the parasite is still present and living off the skin.

    Bald Spots

    • When the ringworm infects the area of the scalp, the individual will start to notice clumps of hair breaking or falling out. As the hair is lost, the area will begin to form a ring. The skin within the area of hair loss is typically scaly and red, and can have a somewhat itchy sensation. If left untreated, these circular bald patches can begin to expand, covering more and more of the scalp and continuing to prompt hair loss.

    Brittle Hair

    • There is also the potential that an infection of ringworm, namely when isolated to the scalp, can cause the actual texture of the hair to change. If this were to occur, the hair will feel far more brittle than normal and will break off quite easily.

    Pain

    • Sometimes, an infection of ringworm can cause the scalp to become extremely tender, usually within the patches of hair loss. This tenderness or sensitivity can cause some level of pain when touched, making it difficult to wash or brush the hair.

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