A person has dry, scaly lesions with intense itching on the skin between the toes and in the groin. The lesions get worse in hot and humid weather. Which of the following correctly gives the likely cause and a way in which it is acquired?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A fungal infection, acquired from soil or by using towels, clothes or comb of infected individuals
Dry, scaly, intensely itching lesions on the skin, worse in skin folds such as the groin and between the toes, are the signs of ringworm. It is caused by fungi of the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Heat and moisture help these fungi grow, and the infection is picked up from soil or from the towels, clothes or comb of infected persons.
Option (1) A fungal infection, acquired from soil or by using towels, clothes or comb of infected individuals — Correct. A fungal infection, picked up from soil or from the towels, clothes or comb of infected individuals, matches every clue.
Option (2) A bacterial infection, acquired by inhaling droplets released by an infected person — Incorrect. Inhaled droplets spread bacterial diseases of the lungs such as pneumonia, which give fever, chills and cough, not scaly skin lesions.
Option (3) A helminth infection, acquired through contaminated water, vegetables and fruits — Incorrect. Helminths such as Ascaris come through contaminated water, vegetables and fruits and live in the intestine. They do not cause itching lesions in skin folds.
Option (4) A protozoan infection, acquired through food contaminated by houseflies carrying the parasite — Incorrect. Houseflies carry the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica to food, which causes amoebiasis, a disease of the large intestine.
NCERT Extract:
Common Diseases in Humans – “… Many fungi belonging to the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton are responsible for ringworms which is one of the most common infectious diseases in man. Appearance of dry, scaly lesions on various parts of the body such as skin, nails and scalp … are the main symptoms of the disease. These lesions are accompanied by intense itching. Heat and moisture help these fungi to grow, which makes them thrive in skin folds such as those in the groin or between the toes. Ringworms are generally acquired from soil or by using towels, clothes or even the comb of infected individuals.”