What is the Difference Between Ringworm and Roundworm

The main difference between ringworm and roundworm is that ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus whereas roundworm is an intestinal worm.

Generally, ringworm and roundworm are two types of infections that cause diseases in humans and pets. Generally, ringworm causes circular rashes that are red and itchy while roundworm leads to diarrhea and fever in humans.  

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Ringworm
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is Roundworm
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Ringworm and Roundworm
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Ringworm and Roundworm
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Ringworm, Roundworm

What is Ringworm

Ringworm is a common infection of the skin and nails caused by a fungus. It causes a circular rash that becomes red and itchy. The other names for ringworm and the other names for ringworm disease include “tinea” or “dermatophytosis”. There are different types of ringworm depending on the part of the body they infect. Generally, the ringworm can affect the scalp (tinea capitis), feet (tinea pedis), inner thighs, groin, or buttocks (tinea cruris), toenails or fingernails (tinea unguium, also called “onychomycosis”), beard (tinea barbae), hands (tinea manuum), as well as the other parts of the body such as arms or legs (known as tinea corporis).

Figure 1: Ringworm

Furthermore, the main symptoms of ringworm include itchiness, itchy or scaly patches that are brown, gray, or red, or raised areas of skin, a round, flat patch of itchy skin, patches that develop pustules or blisters, patches that look like a ring with deeper color on the outside, patches with defined and raised edges, overlapping rings, and hair loss. In addition, the risk factors include using public showers, contact sports such as wrestling, excessive sweating, contact with animals, obesity, and poor immune function.

What is Roundworm

Roundworm is the parasitic infection of the worm also known as the small intestinal roundworm. In addition, ascariasis is the disease condition of roundworms. Their infection causes diarrhea and fever in humans. More importantly, poor sanitization and hygiene are the main causes of roundworm disease. Roundworms can live in the intestine, which is a part of the digestive system. Usually, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain are the common symptoms of roundworm. Furthermore, roundworms contain long, round bodies. The eggs and the larvae or the newly hatched roundworms live in the contaminated soil.

Figure 2: Large Roundworm

Moreover, roundworms are parasites, that is, an organism that lives in another creature. Ascaris lumbricoides is the “large roundworm” in humans. It grows to a length of up to 35 cm. It is one of several species of Ascaris. In addition, the other types of roundworms include hookworm, Guinea worm, filariasis, threadworm (pinworm), trichuriasis (whipworm), trichinellosis, angiostrongyliasis, strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis, gnathostomiasis, and anisakiasis.  

Similarities Between Ringworm and Roundworm

• Ringworm and roundworm are two types of infections in animals and humans.
• Moreover, both cause disease conditions in humans.

Difference Between Ringworm and Roundworm

Definition

Ringworm refers to a common infection of the skin and nails caused by a fungus while roundworm refers to a nematode worm, especially a parasitic one found in the intestines of mammals.

Significance

Generally, ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus while roundworm is an intestinal infection caused by a parasitic worm.

Symptoms

Ringworm causes circular rashes that are red and itchy while roundworm leads to diarrhea and fever in humans.  

Prevention

Antifungal treatments prevent ringworm while avoidance of contaminated soil can prevent roundworm infection.

Conclusion

In brief, ringworm is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus. It causes a circular rash that is red and itchy. Therefore, it requires an antifungal treatment for ringworm. A roundworm, on the other hand, is a parasitic infection of a worm that causes diarrhea and fever in humans. Generally, the avoidance of contaminated soil with feces can prevent roundworm infection. Therefore, the main difference between ringworm and roundworm is the type of infection.

References:

1. “About Ringworm.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Feb. 2021.  
2. Tidy, Dr Colin. “Roundworms: Symptoms and Treatment.” info, 30 Nov. 2017

Image Courtesy:

1. “Dermatophytosis 20190815-02ASD” By Asurnipal – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Giant roundworms (Ascarismbrico luides) hatching 4.” By Achat1999- Own Work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia