Key Concepts
Overview
Tinea corporis ties high-yield nursing judgment to airway, perfusion, infection control, and safe medication administration. Dermatophyte fungi (Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton) invade keratin producing annular, scaly plaques with central clearing and a raised advancing border—often pruritic. Transmission is skin-to-skin, fomites (wrestling mats, shared towels), and zoonotic exposure (kittens with Microsporum canis). Topical allylamines (terbinafine) and azoles are first-line for limited disease; oral antifungals appear when extensive, refractory, or tinea capitis/onychomycosis coexists—monitor LFTs for oral terbinafine themes and drug interactions. Nursing differentiates tinea from nummular eczema, psoriasis, erythema migrans, and granuloma annulare. KOH prep (when performed) shows hyphae. Teach completion of therapy beyond symptom resolution to prevent recurrence. Cross-link US RN lessons hub · Canada RN lessons hub and related LESSON cards where the stem crosses systems. Pathophysiology in plain language. Think in layers: cells → organs → whole-person compensation. When a stem describes acute change (fever, pain, new neuro deficit, hypoxia, hypotension), ask what system is failing to compensate and what reversible threat is most time-sensitive. Nurses are the continuity layer: you trend objective data, reconcile subjective reports, and prevent “task...