HealthJuly 17, 2026
dermatophytosis
/ˌdɜːrmətoʊfaɪˈtoʊsɪs/
Definition
A common fungal infection of the skin, hair, and nails, colloquially known as ringworm.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'derma' (skin) and 'phyton' (plant), referring to the fungal nature of the infection, combined with the suffix '-osis' which denotes a pathological or diseased state.
In the news
The article uses the term to categorize dermatophytosis as a type of fungal infection that is becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to growing antimicrobial resistance. It serves as an example of a common ailment threatened by the reduced effectiveness of standard antifungal medications.
Antimicrobial resistance
Read the full article ↗World Health Organization (WHO)