Choa wa Mwili

(Tinea ya mwili)

Uhakiki Kamili: Apr 2026 NaThe Manual's Editorial Staff
Iliyosasishwa mwisho: Apr 2026
v39242287_sw

Ringworm is a common fungal infection of your skin or nails. Ringworm has nothing to do with worms. But the rash it causes can be ring-shaped. Therefore the infection has come to be called ringworm. Doctors call these infections "tinea."

Choa wa mwili ni nini?

Body ringworm is a fungal infection that creates a ring-shaped rash on your face, arms, legs, chest, or belly.

  • Body ringworm can spread to other parts of your body or to other people if your skin touches theirs

  • Doctors treat it with antifungal cream or rarely pills

Zipi ni dalili za choa wa mwili?

Symptoms include:

  • Pink or red round patches on your skin with raised, scaly borders

  • Sometimes, itchiness

Mifano ya Choa wa Mwili (Tinea Corporis)
Choa wa Mwili (Tinea Corporis)

This photo shows a pink-to-red, round patch of body ringworm. The patch has raised borders, some scaling, and some clearing of the center at the bottom of the patch.

This photo shows a pink-to-red, round patch of body ringworm. The patch has raised borders, some scaling, and some clea

... soma zaidi

Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.

Choa wa Mwili (Tinea ya Mwili) Wenye Ukingo wa Magamba

Both patches seen in this photo are caused by tinea corporis. A scaly border can be seen in the patch on the right.

Both patches seen in this photo are caused by tinea corporis. A scaly border can be seen in the patch on the right.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Choa wa Mwili (Tinea wa Mwili) Wenye Eneo la Kati Lililo Wazi

The round patch of body ringworm seen in this photo has a raised border and a mostly clear center.

The round patch of body ringworm seen in this photo has a raised border and a mostly clear center.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Mnyoo Mviringo kwenye mwili (Tinea Corporis) kwenye Matako

This photo shows a scaly, red patch characteristic of tinea corporis. The center appears less clear than on light skin because the infection has caused inflammation.

This photo shows a scaly, red patch characteristic of tinea corporis. The center appears less clear than on light skin

... soma zaidi

Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.

Mnyoo Mviringo kwenye Mwili (Tinea Corporis) Doa Pamoja na Weusi Katikati

The center of this patch is dark (called central hyperpigmentation) because the infection has caused inflammation in it.

The center of this patch is dark (called central hyperpigmentation) because the infection has caused inflammation in it

... soma zaidi

© Springer Science+Business Media

Madaktari wanawezaje kujua ikiwa nina choa wa mwili?

Doctors can usually tell it's body ringworm by looking at it. To know for sure, doctors may take a small scraping of your skin to look at under a microscope.

Je, madaktari wanatibu vipi choa wa mwili?

Doctors treat body ringworm with:

  • An antifungal cream or lotion

  • Sometimes, medicine you take by mouth

If you stop using the medicine too soon, the infection may come back.