Improved Technic for Diagnosing Ringworm Infections and Moniliasis

Although superficial fungus infection of the skin is a common disease, it has been our experience that diagnosis of the condition is often made on the basis of inadequate evidence. Ringworm, especially of the feet, is a popular diagnosis among both physicians and laymen. The diagnosis is usually based on brief clinical inspection without resort to confirmatory laboratory procedures. A false diagnosis of ringworm carries the hazard of exposing the patient to therapeutic attacks that at best may not be helpful, and at worst may be damaging. We have repeatedly had the opportunity to observe patients with various types of contact dermatitis who have received the wrong treatment, often with great harm to themselves, because of a clinical misdiagnosis of ringworm. On the other hand, the failure to make an accurate diagnosis, particularly in the more resistant cases such as ringworm of the nails, entirely precludes rational therapy. Confirmation of