Ringworm: A Fungal Disease Caused by Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton
Biology · Human Health and Diseases · NEET
Ringworm is a fungal disease of the skin. It is caused by three genera of fungi: Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. It shows as dry, scaly lesions with intense itching on skin, nails and scalp. Memory hook: "MTE fungi ring the skin" — Microsporum, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton. NEET loves to ask "Ringworm = which fungus?", so lock these three names.
Ringworm at a glance: caused by three fungal genera (Microsporum, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton), showing dry scaly itchy lesions on skin/nails/scalp, and spreading via soil and shared personal items.
Your doubts, answered
Is ringworm caused by a worm?
No. Ringworm is NOT caused by a worm, even though the name has the word 'worm'. It is a FUNGAL disease. The name comes only from the ring-shaped, red scaly patch on the skin. NEET uses this name as a trap. Always remember: ringworm = fungus, not a helminth (worm).
Which fungi cause ringworm?
Three genera of fungi cause ringworm: Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. NCERT names all three together. In matching questions NEET may show any one of them (often Trichophyton or Microsporum) as the correct partner for ringworm.
What are the symptoms of ringworm?
The main symptoms are dry, scaly lesions on the skin, nails and scalp. These lesions cause intense itching. Because heat and moisture help the fungi grow, ringworm is common in skin folds like the groin and between the toes.
How does ringworm spread?
Ringworm spreads by contact. A healthy person gets it from soil, or by sharing towels, clothes, or even the comb of an infected person. This is why it counts as an infectious disease that passes from person to person through fomites (used objects).
How is ringworm different from elephantiasis?
They are caused by completely different organisms. Ringworm is a FUNGAL skin disease (Microsporum/Trichophyton/Epidermophyton). Elephantiasis (filariasis) is caused by a WORM (helminth) Wuchereria, spread by mosquito, and it swells the lymphatic vessels of the legs. NEET often puts both in the same match-the-column question to confuse you.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Ringworm is a worm disease, so it is caused by a helminth like Wuchereria or Ascaris. ✓ Ringworm is a FUNGAL disease caused by Microsporum, Trichophyton or Epidermophyton. The word 'worm' is misleading — no worm is involved. 🧠 Ring-WORM has no worm. Its ring is fungus, not a helminth.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2023 Phase 2
Match List - I with List - II.
List - I: (A) Typhoid (B) Elephantiasis (C) Ringworm (D) Malaria
List - II: (I) Protozoan (II) Salmonella (III) Aschelminthes (IV) Microsporum
Choose the correct answer:
A · A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I ✓
B · A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I
C · A-I, B-IV, C-III, D-II
D · A-I, B-III, C-IV, D-II
Solution: Typhoid is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi (A-II). Elephantiasis/filariasis is caused by Wuchereria, a helminth of phylum Aschelminthes (B-III). Ringworm is caused by the fungus Microsporum (C-IV). Malaria is caused by the protozoan Plasmodium (D-I). So the answer is A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I. The trap: ringworm sounds like a worm, but here it must be matched to Microsporum, a fungus.
NEET 2021
Match List I with List II.
List I: (a) Filariasis (b) Amoebiasis (c) Pneumonia (d) Ringworm
List II: (i) Haemophilus influenzae (ii) Trichophyton (iii) Wuchereria bancrofti (iv) Entamoeba histolytica
Choose the correct answer:
A · a-i, b-ii, c-iv, d-iii
B · a-ii, b-iii, c-i, d-iv
C · a-iv, b-i, c-iii, d-ii
D · a-iii, b-iv, c-i, d-ii ✓
Solution: Filariasis is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, a worm (a-iii); Amoebiasis by Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan (b-iv); Pneumonia by Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium (c-i); Ringworm by Trichophyton, a fungus (d-ii). So the answer is a-iii, b-iv, c-i, d-ii. Ringworm pairs with the fungus Trichophyton, not with the worm Wuchereria.
Solved Human Health and Diseases NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Ringworm is a FUNGAL disease. It is not bacterial, not viral, and not caused by a worm. The causal fungi belong to the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.
What is the causative organism of ringworm for NEET?
For NEET, accept any of Microsporum, Trichophyton or Epidermophyton. NCERT lists all three genera as responsible for ringworm.
Why is ringworm common in skin folds?
Heat and moisture help the fungi grow. So they thrive in warm, damp skin folds such as the groin and the area between the toes.
Can ringworm spread from person to person?
Yes. It spreads through soil and through shared objects (fomites) like towels, clothes and combs of infected people. That makes it an infectious disease.
Is ringworm the same as elephantiasis?
No. Ringworm is a fungal skin disease. Elephantiasis is caused by the worm Wuchereria and swells the lymphatic vessels of the legs. NEET often tests both together to check if you confuse them.
