Ringworm Infections with Oral Eclat

Although the medical and biological importance of ringworm infections was acknowledged a long time ago, the putting-up-to-date of some clinical notions is justified for at least three reasons: the improvement and accessibility of molecular biology techniques, the consideration of the major pathogenic role of these viruses in circumstances of immune depression, the possibility to control these infections by means of specific chemotherapy. Material and Method: A prospective study was carried out in the interval 1.01.2006 – 31.12. 2008, of all cases of ringworm infections with oral eclat, hospitalized in The Infectious Diseases Hospital of Iasi. The diagnosis was established according to the clinical manifestations, the hematological modifications and, if the case, serological examination. Results: The study included 291 cases: 56–infections with EBV (19.24%), 69–chickenpox (23.71%), 117–Zoster ringworm (40.2%), 49–infection with VHS1 (16.83%). The infection with EVB (infectious mononucleosis) was diagnosed within the age interval 8 months–60 years (median– 10 years). The oral manifestations were mainly located at the level of the palatine and velopalatine vault. Chickenpox was diagnosed within the age interval 7 days–52 years (median–8 years). The chickenpox enantem was observed in 90.42% of the cases, being represented by varix wounds, or ”hemorrhagic spots”, mostly located at the level of the fibrous mucose membrane of the palatine vault – 40.2%. The Zoster ringworm was diagnosed at patients aged 8 months–89 years (median – 58 years), the oral manifestations being objectified in the affection of the trigeminal nerve (3.2%) under the form of ulcerous lesions ”in a bunch” resulting from the erosion of the vesicles enantem, mainly on the fibrous mucose membrane of the palatine vault, following the median line. The infection with the ringworm virus simplex 1 was observed within the age interval 7 months–84 years (median 4 years), manifested as primeinfection (ringworm stomatitis–84.4%) or as ca recurrence (labial ringworm–15.6%). The stomatitis lesions were of the ulcerous type or diffuse redness of the mucous, mostly located at a jugal and lingual level (38.2%). Conclusions: The knowledge of the oral manifestations in ringworm infections with highly contagious potential and a high risk of severe complications represents a fundamental method in early diagnosis as well as an important step in establishing the prophylaxy measures meant to prevent these pathogens from being transmitted to the dentist office.