Ringworm infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat and are now appearing among urban populations who maintain high standards of hygiene, a leading mycology expert warned on Thursday, 20 August 2026, during pre-conference workshops held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, ahead of CIDSCON-2026 — the 16th annual conference of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society. The alert came as postgraduate and young doctors were trained on infectious disease management and antifungal stewardship.

What Experts Said About Ringworm

Dr M. R. Shivaprakash, mycology expert and faculty member at the workshops, said the pattern of ringworm — clinically known as dermatophytosis — has changed dramatically over the past decade. Where ordinary topical ointments once resolved the infection, it has now become resistant to standard treatments, capable of spreading across the body and even reaching the scalp even after prolonged therapy.

He noted that the infection is no longer confined to rural areas or economically weaker sections of society. 'It was no longer restricted to rural areas or economically weaker sections, with cases increasingly seen among urban populations and people who maintain high standards of hygiene,' Dr Shivaprakash said. The infection is also spreading from animals to humans and from person to person — a transmission pattern similar to scabies.

The Antifungal Resistance Challenge

Dr Shivaprakash stressed that while antibiotic resistance receives widespread attention, antifungal resistance is an equally serious and under-recognised threat. Treating serious fungal infections — including brain infections — is already complex, and resistance is compounding that difficulty.

'A basic understanding of which antifungal medicines are effective in serious conditions, such as brain infections, is essential,' he said. He urged young doctors to ensure accurate diagnosis using appropriate methods and to develop a thorough understanding of the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of antifungal medicines. He also called for antifungal stewardship programmes to be kept separate from antibacterial stewardship programmes to better control the spread of resistance.

CIDSCON-2026: Conference Focus and Scale

CIDSCON-2026 is being held in Gandhinagar from 20 to 23 August, with the main conference running from 21 to 23 August. The official theme is 'Addressing AMR: From Awareness to Action'. More than 950 delegates — including infectious disease specialists, clinicians, researchers, microbiologists, and healthcare professionals — are expected to participate.

Dr Harsh Toshniwal, CIDSCON co-organising chairman and Professor and Head of Department at Shree Swaminarayan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kalol, said the conference is particularly relevant given its focus on fever and different types of infections. 'Young doctors are advised to avoid unnecessary antibiotics, use them judiciously, and give priority to accurate diagnosis. Antibiotics should be avoided in cases such as viral or seasonal fever, so that their effectiveness could be preserved for future generations,' he said.

Workshop Sessions and Training Areas

Thursday's workshops at Mahatma Mandir covered five structured areas. 'ID 360: Mastering the Basics' addressed fundamentals of infectious diseases, case history-taking, and basic examination. 'Microbiology 360: Diagnostics, Stewardship and Infection Control' covered laboratory diagnosis and hospital infection-control practices. 'The Zero Defence Challenge: ID in the Immunocompromised' focused on patients with weakened immunity, including those with diabetes, kidney failure, and organ transplants.

Two additional sessions examined AI and technology in infectious disease practice, and infection prevention in surgical settings. Microbiologist Dr Anjali Shetty, who travelled from Mumbai for the event, described the sessions as highly informative and said they attracted a large number of doctors. Dr Chintan Jadav, a workshop participant, said such sessions provided valuable guidance to postgraduate doctors navigating day-to-day clinical challenges.

What Doctors and Patients Should Watch

The broader CIDSCON programme will cover antimicrobial resistance, tropical infections, tuberculosis, HIV, fungal infections, virology, and infections among immunocompromised patients. The conference signals a growing consensus among Indian infectious disease specialists that antifungal resistance must be elevated to the same priority level as antibiotic resistance — and that ringworm, long dismissed as a minor ailment, now demands the same clinical rigour as systemic infections.