GITNUXREPORT 2026

Ringworm Statistics

Ringworm is a common global fungal infection affecting millions of people annually.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Ringworm lesions first appear as 1-2 cm red papules expanding radially

Statistic 2

Tinea capitis presents with 50-80% hair loss in 5 cm patches

Statistic 3

Athlete's foot causes interdigital maceration in 70% of cases with white scaling

Statistic 4

Jock itch shows sharp-bordered erythema in groin with 2-5 cm satellite lesions

Statistic 5

Onychomycosis leads to 50% nail plate thickening and 30% subungual debris

Statistic 6

Majocchi's granuloma features nodular subcutaneous invasion in 10% immunosuppressed

Statistic 7

Tinea incognito from steroid misuse shows diffuse ill-defined plaques

Statistic 8

Inflammatory tinea barbae causes pustules and 1-3 cm boggy swellings

Statistic 9

Kerion formation occurs in 20% tinea capitis with pus-filled 4-6 cm swellings

Statistic 10

Tinea manuum affects palms with hyperkeratosis up to 3 mm thick

Statistic 11

Black dot tinea capitis shows 0.5-1 mm broken hairs in 60% cases

Statistic 12

Vesicles in tinea pedis measure 1-3 mm with clear fluid in acute phase

Statistic 13

Central clearing in tinea corporis reaches 70% lesion diameter typically

Statistic 14

Pruritus intensity scores average 6/10 on VAS in untreated ringworm

Statistic 15

Nail pitting and onycholysis affect 40% of tinea unguium nails

Statistic 16

Tinea faciei mimics rosacea with 2-4 cm annular facial plaques

Statistic 17

Bullous tinea pedis blisters span 1-2 cm on instep in 5% cases

Statistic 18

Favus type tinea capitis forms 0.5 cm yellow crusts called scutula

Statistic 19

Secondary bacterial infection complicates 15% of ringworm lesions

Statistic 20

Lesion incubation period averages 4-14 days post-exposure

Statistic 21

Chronic tinea imbricata shows concentric polycyclic scales in tropics

Statistic 22

Pain in tinea cruris rates 4/10 VAS due to friction

Statistic 23

Diffuse scaling covers 80% of lesion surface in moccasin tinea pedis

Statistic 24

Alopecia in tinea barbae affects 2-5 cm beard areas

Statistic 25

Hyperpigmentation persists 3-6 months post-resolution in 30% dark skin

Statistic 26

KOH microscopy shows 90% branched septate hyphae 2-4 micrometers wide

Statistic 27

DTM culture grows dermatophytes in 70-80% of cases within 14 days yellow to red

Statistic 28

PCR detects T. rubrum DNA with 95% sensitivity in nail clippings

Statistic 29

Wood's lamp fluoresces green in 50% Microsporum infections

Statistic 30

PAS staining of biopsies reveals 3-8 micrometer hyphae in 85% accuracy

Statistic 31

MALDI-TOF MS identifies dermatophytes in 92% within 24 hours

Statistic 32

Hair shaft exam shows ectothrix sheaths in 80% M. canis cases

Statistic 33

Calcofluor white stain sensitivity is 97% under fluorescence microscopy

Statistic 34

Nested PCR for ITS region has 98.5% specificity for dermatophytes

Statistic 35

UV dermoscopy reveals corkscrew hairs in 75% tinea capitis

Statistic 36

CLSI M38-A2 broth dilution MIC for terbinafine is 0.03-0.125 mcg/mL

Statistic 37

Tzanck smear rarely shows multinucleate cells unlike herpes

Statistic 38

Real-time PCR quantifies fungal load >10^4 copies/g for positivity

Statistic 39

Lactophenol cotton blue mounts reveal macroconidia 8-15x40-60 um

Statistic 40

High-resolution MRI detects scalp abscess in kerion with 90% sensitivity

Statistic 41

ELISA for Trichophyton antigen has 85% sensitivity in serum

Statistic 42

Reflectance confocal microscopy shows hyphae at 100x magnification in vivo

Statistic 43

CHROMagar medium differentiates dermatophytes by colony color in 88%

Statistic 44

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) detects in 30 min 96% accuracy

Statistic 45

Biopsy fungal culture yield drops to 40% if >1 month topical steroids used

Statistic 46

Microscopic exam false negative rate is 20-30% without experience

Statistic 47

Sequencing of ITS1 region confirms species in 99% ambiguous cultures

Statistic 48

Teledermatology misdiagnoses ringworm as eczema in 25% cases

Statistic 49

Itraconazole MIC90 is 0.25 mcg/mL for most T. rubrum strains

Statistic 50

Trichophyton rubrum causes 70% of all ringworm infections worldwide

Statistic 51

Microsporum canis accounts for 50% of tinea capitis in Europe from animal contact

Statistic 52

Epidermophyton floccosum primarily causes tinea cruris in 80% of cases

Statistic 53

Trichophyton tonsurans is responsible for 90% of urban tinea capitis in Americas

Statistic 54

T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale causes 60% of athlete's foot globally

Statistic 55

Zoophilic strains like M. canis cause 98% of animal-transmitted ringworm

Statistic 56

Anthropophilic dermatophytes have 80% keratin affinity specificity

Statistic 57

T. verrucosum causes 70% of cattle-related human ringworm outbreaks

Statistic 58

Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii is the teleomorph of M. canis in 100% cases

Statistic 59

T. rubrum shows 90% resistance to natural antifungals like tea tree oil in vitro

Statistic 60

Geophilic species like Microsporum gypseum cause 10% of soil-acquired infections

Statistic 61

T. violaceum prevalence in tinea capitis rose to 40% in some Asian countries

Statistic 62

Candida species co-infect 15% of chronic ringworm cases

Statistic 63

T. soudanense causes endothrix hair invasion in 95% of African cases

Statistic 64

M. audouinii ectothrix spores number 100,000 per infected hair shaft

Statistic 65

Dermatophyte cell wall chitin content is 20-30% by dry weight

Statistic 66

T. interdigitale produces 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-adenosine toxin in 80% strains

Statistic 67

Ringworm fungi require 25-35°C and 70% humidity for optimal growth

Statistic 68

T. rubrum genome encodes 10,000+ genes with 40% for metabolism

Statistic 69

Hyphae of dermatophytes branch at 45-degree angles typically

Statistic 70

Arthroconidia survival in dust lasts up to 18 months

Statistic 71

T. equinum causes 95% of horse-to-human transmissions

Statistic 72

M. nanum infects 5% of pig farmers with zoonotic ringworm

Statistic 73

Dermatophytes produce mannans as 15% of cell wall for immune evasion

Statistic 74

T. rubrum invades stratum corneum to 100-200 micrometers depth

Statistic 75

Ringworm affects approximately 20-25% of the world's population at any given time

Statistic 76

In the United States, an estimated 10-20 million cases of ringworm are reported annually

Statistic 77

Children aged 3-9 years have the highest incidence rate of tinea capitis, a form of ringworm, at 3-8% prevalence in urban areas

Statistic 78

Globally, dermatophytosis accounts for 25% of all fungal infections

Statistic 79

In India, ringworm prevalence reaches up to 30% in humid regions due to high moisture levels

Statistic 80

Athlete's foot, a ringworm variant, affects 15% of the US population yearly

Statistic 81

Tinea corporis incidence is 0.2-0.5% in temperate climates but rises to 2-3% in tropics

Statistic 82

In Africa, tinea capitis prevalence in schoolchildren is 20-50% in some communities

Statistic 83

Jock itch (tinea cruris) prevalence is 10-15% among adult males in locker room settings

Statistic 84

Ringworm outbreaks in wrestling teams affect up to 30% of participants per season

Statistic 85

In the UK, GP consultations for dermatophytosis average 1.5 million annually

Statistic 86

Prevalence of onychomycosis (nail ringworm) is 10% in adults over 60 years

Statistic 87

In Brazil, urban slums show 40% ringworm prevalence among children under 10

Statistic 88

Tinea pedis affects 45% of adults in Finland based on military surveys

Statistic 89

Global economic burden of ringworm exceeds $1 billion yearly in treatments

Statistic 90

In China, tinea capitis incidence dropped from 15% to 5% post-2000s due to hygiene

Statistic 91

US veterans have 2x higher ringworm rates due to communal living

Statistic 92

In Australia, beachgoers show 25% tinea pedis prevalence

Statistic 93

School absenteeism from ringworm averages 5-7 days per case in endemic areas

Statistic 94

In Europe, immigrant populations have 3x higher tinea capitis rates

Statistic 95

Ringworm is responsible for 15% of pediatric dermatology visits worldwide

Statistic 96

In Japan, tinea unguium prevalence is 12% in elderly

Statistic 97

HIV patients have 10-20% higher ringworm dissemination risk

Statistic 98

In Mexico, rural areas report 35% childhood ringworm prevalence

Statistic 99

Gym users have 20% increased tinea corporis risk

Statistic 100

Global incidence of superficial mycoses like ringworm is 1 billion cases/year

Statistic 101

In the Philippines, monsoon season doubles ringworm cases to 18%

Statistic 102

Diabetics have 25% lifetime ringworm risk elevation

Statistic 103

Pet ownership increases household ringworm risk by 15%

Statistic 104

Oral terbinafine cures 94% of tinea capitis in children within 6 weeks

Statistic 105

Topical clotrimazole 1% cream resolves 80% tinea corporis in 4 weeks

Statistic 106

Fluconazole 150mg weekly for 4 weeks cures 85% tinea cruris

Statistic 107

Griseofulvin 20mg/kg/day microsize cures 90% tinea capitis in 8 weeks

Statistic 108

Amorolfine 5% nail lacquer monthly cures 38% onychomycosis in 12 months

Statistic 109

Itraconazole pulse 200mg BID x1 week/month x3 cures 63% fingernails

Statistic 110

Selenium sulfide shampoo reduces contagion by 70% in tinea capitis

Statistic 111

Ciclopirox 0.77% suspension BID cures 68% tinea pedis in 4 weeks

Statistic 112

Terbinafine 250mg daily x12 weeks mycologic cure 76% toenails

Statistic 113

Ketoconazole 2% shampoo adjunct reduces recurrence by 50%

Statistic 114

Naftifine 2% gel QD cures 91% tinea corporis in 2 weeks

Statistic 115

Voriconazole MIC for resistant strains averages 1-4 mcg/mL

Statistic 116

Photodynamic therapy with ALA cures 80% recalcitrant cases adjunctively

Statistic 117

Tea tree oil 10% solution equals 1% tolnaftate in 60% mild cases

Statistic 118

Luliconazole 1% cream QD x1 week cures 92% tinea cruris

Statistic 119

Recurrence rate post-topical is 20-30% without hygiene measures

Statistic 120

Oral griseofulfin ultramicrosize 10-15mg/kg/day faster absorption 1.5x

Statistic 121

Combination betamethasone-clotrimazole shortens symptoms by 40% but risks resistance

Statistic 122

Laser therapy 1064nm Nd:YAG achieves 95% clearance in 3 sessions nails

Statistic 123

Prophylactic terbinafine 250mg weekly reduces wrestlers outbreaks 85%

Statistic 124

Efinaconazole 10% solution mycologic cure 55% toenails 48 weeks

Statistic 125

Pet antifungal shampoo (miconazole 2%) prevents 70% household spread

Statistic 126

Tavaborole 5% solution penetrates nails 4x better than ciclopirox

Statistic 127

Post-treatment follow-up at 12 weeks confirms cure in 90% cultures

Statistic 128

Daily sock changes reduce tinea pedis recurrence by 65%

Statistic 129

UV shoe sanitizers eliminate 99% fungal spores in insoles

Statistic 130

Fluconazole resistance in T. rubrum rose from 1% to 4% 2010-2020

Statistic 131

Adjunctive zinc pyrithione shampoo improves cure by 25% in capitis

Statistic 132

Cost-effectiveness: Topical azoles $50/course vs oral $200 for capitis

1/132

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Believe it or not, a shocking one in four people globally is battling a red, itchy, and highly contagious fungal infection known as ringworm.

Key Takeaways

Ringworm affects approximately 20-25% of the world's population at any given time
In the United States, an estimated 10-20 million cases of ringworm are reported annually
Children aged 3-9 years have the highest incidence rate of tinea capitis, a form of ringworm, at 3-8% prevalence in urban areas
Trichophyton rubrum causes 70% of all ringworm infections worldwide
Microsporum canis accounts for 50% of tinea capitis in Europe from animal contact
Epidermophyton floccosum primarily causes tinea cruris in 80% of cases
Ringworm lesions first appear as 1-2 cm red papules expanding radially
Tinea capitis presents with 50-80% hair loss in 5 cm patches
Athlete's foot causes interdigital maceration in 70% of cases with white scaling
KOH microscopy shows 90% branched septate hyphae 2-4 micrometers wide
DTM culture grows dermatophytes in 70-80% of cases within 14 days yellow to red
PCR detects T. rubrum DNA with 95% sensitivity in nail clippings
Oral terbinafine cures 94% of tinea capitis in children within 6 weeks
Topical clotrimazole 1% cream resolves 80% tinea corporis in 4 weeks
Fluconazole 150mg weekly for 4 weeks cures 85% tinea cruris

Ringworm is a common global fungal infection affecting millions of people annually.

Clinical Manifestations

Ringworm lesions first appear as 1-2 cm red papules expanding radially
Tinea capitis presents with 50-80% hair loss in 5 cm patches
Athlete's foot causes interdigital maceration in 70% of cases with white scaling
Jock itch shows sharp-bordered erythema in groin with 2-5 cm satellite lesions
Onychomycosis leads to 50% nail plate thickening and 30% subungual debris
Majocchi's granuloma features nodular subcutaneous invasion in 10% immunosuppressed
Tinea incognito from steroid misuse shows diffuse ill-defined plaques
Inflammatory tinea barbae causes pustules and 1-3 cm boggy swellings
Kerion formation occurs in 20% tinea capitis with pus-filled 4-6 cm swellings
Tinea manuum affects palms with hyperkeratosis up to 3 mm thick
Black dot tinea capitis shows 0.5-1 mm broken hairs in 60% cases
Vesicles in tinea pedis measure 1-3 mm with clear fluid in acute phase
Central clearing in tinea corporis reaches 70% lesion diameter typically
Pruritus intensity scores average 6/10 on VAS in untreated ringworm
Nail pitting and onycholysis affect 40% of tinea unguium nails
Tinea faciei mimics rosacea with 2-4 cm annular facial plaques
Bullous tinea pedis blisters span 1-2 cm on instep in 5% cases
Favus type tinea capitis forms 0.5 cm yellow crusts called scutula
Secondary bacterial infection complicates 15% of ringworm lesions
Lesion incubation period averages 4-14 days post-exposure
Chronic tinea imbricata shows concentric polycyclic scales in tropics
Pain in tinea cruris rates 4/10 VAS due to friction
Diffuse scaling covers 80% of lesion surface in moccasin tinea pedis
Alopecia in tinea barbae affects 2-5 cm beard areas
Hyperpigmentation persists 3-6 months post-resolution in 30% dark skin

Clinical Manifestations Interpretation

The ringworm fungus, a meticulous but unwelcome artist, leaves a precise and measurable trail of destruction across the human landscape, from scalp to sole, with every percentage point and millimeter meticulously accounted for in its clinical portfolio of irritation.

Diagnosis

KOH microscopy shows 90% branched septate hyphae 2-4 micrometers wide
DTM culture grows dermatophytes in 70-80% of cases within 14 days yellow to red
PCR detects T. rubrum DNA with 95% sensitivity in nail clippings
Wood's lamp fluoresces green in 50% Microsporum infections
PAS staining of biopsies reveals 3-8 micrometer hyphae in 85% accuracy
MALDI-TOF MS identifies dermatophytes in 92% within 24 hours
Hair shaft exam shows ectothrix sheaths in 80% M. canis cases
Calcofluor white stain sensitivity is 97% under fluorescence microscopy
Nested PCR for ITS region has 98.5% specificity for dermatophytes
UV dermoscopy reveals corkscrew hairs in 75% tinea capitis
CLSI M38-A2 broth dilution MIC for terbinafine is 0.03-0.125 mcg/mL
Tzanck smear rarely shows multinucleate cells unlike herpes
Real-time PCR quantifies fungal load >10^4 copies/g for positivity
Lactophenol cotton blue mounts reveal macroconidia 8-15x40-60 um
High-resolution MRI detects scalp abscess in kerion with 90% sensitivity
ELISA for Trichophyton antigen has 85% sensitivity in serum
Reflectance confocal microscopy shows hyphae at 100x magnification in vivo
CHROMagar medium differentiates dermatophytes by colony color in 88%
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) detects in 30 min 96% accuracy
Biopsy fungal culture yield drops to 40% if >1 month topical steroids used
Microscopic exam false negative rate is 20-30% without experience
Sequencing of ITS1 region confirms species in 99% ambiguous cultures
Teledermatology misdiagnoses ringworm as eczema in 25% cases
Itraconazole MIC90 is 0.25 mcg/mL for most T. rubrum strains

Diagnosis Interpretation

Nature offers us at least a dozen clever and serious ways to catch a dermatophyte, yet we still end up scratching our heads (and everything else) while sorting through a veritable diagnostic buffet of methods that range from the ancient and artful smear to the modern molecular magic of DNA amplification, all with their own quirky accuracies and pitfalls.

Etiology and Pathogens

Trichophyton rubrum causes 70% of all ringworm infections worldwide
Microsporum canis accounts for 50% of tinea capitis in Europe from animal contact
Epidermophyton floccosum primarily causes tinea cruris in 80% of cases
Trichophyton tonsurans is responsible for 90% of urban tinea capitis in Americas
T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale causes 60% of athlete's foot globally
Zoophilic strains like M. canis cause 98% of animal-transmitted ringworm
Anthropophilic dermatophytes have 80% keratin affinity specificity
T. verrucosum causes 70% of cattle-related human ringworm outbreaks
Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii is the teleomorph of M. canis in 100% cases
T. rubrum shows 90% resistance to natural antifungals like tea tree oil in vitro
Geophilic species like Microsporum gypseum cause 10% of soil-acquired infections
T. violaceum prevalence in tinea capitis rose to 40% in some Asian countries
Candida species co-infect 15% of chronic ringworm cases
T. soudanense causes endothrix hair invasion in 95% of African cases
M. audouinii ectothrix spores number 100,000 per infected hair shaft
Dermatophyte cell wall chitin content is 20-30% by dry weight
T. interdigitale produces 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-adenosine toxin in 80% strains
Ringworm fungi require 25-35°C and 70% humidity for optimal growth
T. rubrum genome encodes 10,000+ genes with 40% for metabolism
Hyphae of dermatophytes branch at 45-degree angles typically
Arthroconidia survival in dust lasts up to 18 months
T. equinum causes 95% of horse-to-human transmissions
M. nanum infects 5% of pig farmers with zoonotic ringworm
Dermatophytes produce mannans as 15% of cell wall for immune evasion
T. rubrum invades stratum corneum to 100-200 micrometers depth

Etiology and Pathogens Interpretation

The fungal world has clearly held a board meeting, assigning Trichophyton rubrum as the CEO of global ringworm, Microsporum canis as the head of European pet projects, and Epidermophyton floccosum as the specialist in uncomfortable inner thigh affairs, all while maintaining a strict corporate policy of thriving in our warm, humid skin.

Prevalence and Epidemiology

Ringworm affects approximately 20-25% of the world's population at any given time
In the United States, an estimated 10-20 million cases of ringworm are reported annually
Children aged 3-9 years have the highest incidence rate of tinea capitis, a form of ringworm, at 3-8% prevalence in urban areas
Globally, dermatophytosis accounts for 25% of all fungal infections
In India, ringworm prevalence reaches up to 30% in humid regions due to high moisture levels
Athlete's foot, a ringworm variant, affects 15% of the US population yearly
Tinea corporis incidence is 0.2-0.5% in temperate climates but rises to 2-3% in tropics
In Africa, tinea capitis prevalence in schoolchildren is 20-50% in some communities
Jock itch (tinea cruris) prevalence is 10-15% among adult males in locker room settings
Ringworm outbreaks in wrestling teams affect up to 30% of participants per season
In the UK, GP consultations for dermatophytosis average 1.5 million annually
Prevalence of onychomycosis (nail ringworm) is 10% in adults over 60 years
In Brazil, urban slums show 40% ringworm prevalence among children under 10
Tinea pedis affects 45% of adults in Finland based on military surveys
Global economic burden of ringworm exceeds $1 billion yearly in treatments
In China, tinea capitis incidence dropped from 15% to 5% post-2000s due to hygiene
US veterans have 2x higher ringworm rates due to communal living
In Australia, beachgoers show 25% tinea pedis prevalence
School absenteeism from ringworm averages 5-7 days per case in endemic areas
In Europe, immigrant populations have 3x higher tinea capitis rates
Ringworm is responsible for 15% of pediatric dermatology visits worldwide
In Japan, tinea unguium prevalence is 12% in elderly
HIV patients have 10-20% higher ringworm dissemination risk
In Mexico, rural areas report 35% childhood ringworm prevalence
Gym users have 20% increased tinea corporis risk
Global incidence of superficial mycoses like ringworm is 1 billion cases/year
In the Philippines, monsoon season doubles ringworm cases to 18%
Diabetics have 25% lifetime ringworm risk elevation
Pet ownership increases household ringworm risk by 15%

Prevalence and Epidemiology Interpretation

The world is quite literally itching with ringworm, as this pervasive fungal infection clings to nearly a quarter of humanity, thriving in our sweat, our schools, and our shared spaces with a tenacity matched only by its global economic and social nuisance.

Treatment and Management

Oral terbinafine cures 94% of tinea capitis in children within 6 weeks
Topical clotrimazole 1% cream resolves 80% tinea corporis in 4 weeks
Fluconazole 150mg weekly for 4 weeks cures 85% tinea cruris
Griseofulvin 20mg/kg/day microsize cures 90% tinea capitis in 8 weeks
Amorolfine 5% nail lacquer monthly cures 38% onychomycosis in 12 months
Itraconazole pulse 200mg BID x1 week/month x3 cures 63% fingernails
Selenium sulfide shampoo reduces contagion by 70% in tinea capitis
Ciclopirox 0.77% suspension BID cures 68% tinea pedis in 4 weeks
Terbinafine 250mg daily x12 weeks mycologic cure 76% toenails
Ketoconazole 2% shampoo adjunct reduces recurrence by 50%
Naftifine 2% gel QD cures 91% tinea corporis in 2 weeks
Voriconazole MIC for resistant strains averages 1-4 mcg/mL
Photodynamic therapy with ALA cures 80% recalcitrant cases adjunctively
Tea tree oil 10% solution equals 1% tolnaftate in 60% mild cases
Luliconazole 1% cream QD x1 week cures 92% tinea cruris
Recurrence rate post-topical is 20-30% without hygiene measures
Oral griseofulfin ultramicrosize 10-15mg/kg/day faster absorption 1.5x
Combination betamethasone-clotrimazole shortens symptoms by 40% but risks resistance
Laser therapy 1064nm Nd:YAG achieves 95% clearance in 3 sessions nails
Prophylactic terbinafine 250mg weekly reduces wrestlers outbreaks 85%
Efinaconazole 10% solution mycologic cure 55% toenails 48 weeks
Pet antifungal shampoo (miconazole 2%) prevents 70% household spread
Tavaborole 5% solution penetrates nails 4x better than ciclopirox
Post-treatment follow-up at 12 weeks confirms cure in 90% cultures
Daily sock changes reduce tinea pedis recurrence by 65%
UV shoe sanitizers eliminate 99% fungal spores in insoles
Fluconazole resistance in T. rubrum rose from 1% to 4% 2010-2020
Adjunctive zinc pyrithione shampoo improves cure by 25% in capitis
Cost-effectiveness: Topical azoles $50/course vs oral $200 for capitis

Treatment and Management Interpretation

From head to toe, and even for pets, modern medicine has a tailored antifungal strategy, but these stubborn fungi remind us that the most effective cure often combines the right prescription with diligent prevention and simple hygiene.

Sources & References

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