Ringworm is a fairly common skin disorder, especially among children, although it does afflict people of all ages. It is estimated that, at any given time, twenty percent of the population is infected with ringworm. For a successful ringworm treatment, it is important for us to learn about its causes, symptoms, methods of prevention, and related current medicinal practices.
This site aims to provide you with detailed, accurate, and well-sourced information regarding ringworm and ringworm treatment. You can access the specific information that you need by clicking on the links below:
Ringworm Treatment - An Overview
A brief introduction to help you identify certain aspects of this skin condition you might want to study.
Causes of Ringworm
Discusses the causes of this infection, how it develops, and under what conditions it multiplies rapidly.
Risk Factors
Explains how contagious nature of ringworm, who are highly at risk of contracting the disease, and how it is normally transmitted.
Symptoms of Ringworm
Informs in detail the specific symptoms of ringworm and how your doctor will diagnose the condition.
Ringworm Self Treatment
Provides detailed information about ringworm treatment, drugs normally used in home-care or self-care medication, alternative ringworm cure, and when it is best to contact a medical professional.
Ringworm Prevention
Discusses the basic steps in preventing ringworm, also explains the need to treat infected household pets, prevention habits, and areas and conditions you need to be wary of.
Ringworm Treatment for Children
A must-read for every parent who would like to learn about the best method of ringworm treatment for his or her child. Detailed, well-researched, and reliable information on treating ringworm in our children.
What Does Ringworm Look Like?
A picture educates more than a thousand words can. This collection of ringworm pictures, borrowed from the Public Health Image Library of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), does just that.
What does ringworm look like
Ringworm is a fairly common skin disorder, especially among children, although it affects people of all ages. It's not caused by any worm, but by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. It commonly appears as reddish-colored circular lesions with scaly raised edges.
Below are pictures of ringworm, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their Public Health Image Library (PHIL):
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) – this infection, which affects the scalp and the hair deep into the roots, is highly contagious and persistent. Ringworm of the scalp, almost exclusively, affects children between the ages of 2 to 10. Symptoms may include itching, flaking or scaling (dandruff), small infected bumps, and hair loss. The infected child may have areas that appear bald due to premature hair loss, and there may be small black dots on the exposed scalp.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is difficult to treat and may require several months of oral antifungal medication. Call your doctor if you or your child has ringworm of the scalp. Homecare ringworm treatment is not very effective in curing tinea capitis.
Ringworm picture above shows a large, tender, swollen, pus-filled lesion called "kerion." This is a complication in ringworm of the scalp believed to be caused by a child's hypersensitivity to the ringworm, may be associated with rash elsewhere in the body and tender lymph nodes in the neck. Ringworm of the scalp has been observed to disappears spontaneously at puberty.
The picture above shows a rare case of “Tinea faciei,” or ringworm infection of the face caused by a dermatophytic fungus, but not including infection of the bearded areas., which are called “tinea barbae”.
Pictures above show ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) occurring in the am and leg
Ringworm of the feet (tinea pedis) or "athlete's foot." Ringworm symptoms may appear in the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.
Below are pictures of ringworm, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their Public Health Image Library (PHIL):
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) – this infection, which affects the scalp and the hair deep into the roots, is highly contagious and persistent. Ringworm of the scalp, almost exclusively, affects children between the ages of 2 to 10. Symptoms may include itching, flaking or scaling (dandruff), small infected bumps, and hair loss. The infected child may have areas that appear bald due to premature hair loss, and there may be small black dots on the exposed scalp.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is difficult to treat and may require several months of oral antifungal medication. Call your doctor if you or your child has ringworm of the scalp. Homecare ringworm treatment is not very effective in curing tinea capitis.
Ringworm picture above shows a large, tender, swollen, pus-filled lesion called "kerion." This is a complication in ringworm of the scalp believed to be caused by a child's hypersensitivity to the ringworm, may be associated with rash elsewhere in the body and tender lymph nodes in the neck. Ringworm of the scalp has been observed to disappears spontaneously at puberty.
The picture above shows a rare case of “Tinea faciei,” or ringworm infection of the face caused by a dermatophytic fungus, but not including infection of the bearded areas., which are called “tinea barbae”.
 |
| Tinea barbae or ringworm of the bearded area |
Pictures above show ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) occurring in the am and leg
Ringworm of the feet (tinea pedis) or "athlete's foot." Ringworm symptoms may appear in the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.
Ringworm Treatment for Children
As a parent, there are a few things you need to know before you begin a home-care ringworm treatmentprogram for your child. It would be downright useless administering ringworm cure based on limited information - only to find out a few weeks later that your child didn't have ringworm, in the first place; Or that the over-the-counter ointment that you've been using was not the best choice for treating the infection.
Below are some pictures of ringworm affecting different parts of the body of some children.
To see more ringworm pictures please click here.
Is it contagious? How did my child get it?
Yes, ringworm is highly contagious, especially ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). It can be transmitted through direct skin contact with:
You must find out whenever possible, where the source of the infection was, and take the necessary action to prevent your child from getting infected again, in the future. Unlike pets, which can develop autoimmunity after about 4 months of infection (even without treatment), your child faces the constant risk of being infected with ringworm, again and again.
What parts of the body are usually affected?
Among children, there are four parts of the body that are usually infected with ringworm. Don't get intimidated by the Latin names, doctor use them simply to describe which part of the body the ringworm is located. These areas include:
Treating mild cases (a patch or two) of ringworm of the body, the feet, and the groin can be done at home. Dr. B.D. Schmitt, author of "Your Child's Health," (Bantam Books) suggests the following over-the-counter antifungal creams or sprays:
Any of these medications are quite effective in the treatment of ringworm in your child. Ringworm usually responds well to homecare medications within 3 to 4 weeks.
Tinea Capitis
On the other hand, ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is difficult to treat and may require several months of oral antifungal medication. Call your doctor if your child has ringworm of the scalp. Homecare ringworm treatment is not very effective in curing tinea capitis.
Because the scalp ringworm infection is deep down in the hair roots, your child must take medicine by mouth in order to cure it. Your doctor will prescribe a medicine by mouth to be taken daily with fatty foods such as milk, yogurt or ice cream, to increase absorption.
Treatment for scalp ringworm may include:
Oral Medication like –
How do I prevent my child from getting infected with ringworm?
Like they always say "prevention is better than cure." The same goes with ringworm, if your child don't have it, try your best for him or her not to have it.
In truth, ringworm is difficult to prevent because the fungi that cause this infection can be found practically anywhere. However, if you take some basic steps, ringworm infection can be prevented. Always encourage your child to:
What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a common infection caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. These are microscopic organisms that live in the soil, in animals, and yes, on the outermost layer of your skin. These fungi thrive in warm, moist environment, and in parts of the body that are often wet or moist from perspiration. Your child, as cited in Children's Hospital (Boston) article on ringworm, increased risk of being infected with ringworm if he or she:- is malnourished
- has poor hygiene
- lives in a warm climate
- has contact with other kids or pets that have ringworm
- is immunocompromised by disease or medication (this simply means that the child has a lowered resistance to infections due to diseases, like AIDS or diabetes, or medication)
Below are some pictures of ringworm affecting different parts of the body of some children.
 |
| a child with ringworm |
Is it contagious? How did my child get it?
Yes, ringworm is highly contagious, especially ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). It can be transmitted through direct skin contact with:
- an infected person
- an infected pet
- an infected object (like brush, hats, towels, clothes, exercise mats)
- or contact with surfaces (like in gyms, public baths, public swimming pools) that have had direct contact with an infected person or pet
You must find out whenever possible, where the source of the infection was, and take the necessary action to prevent your child from getting infected again, in the future. Unlike pets, which can develop autoimmunity after about 4 months of infection (even without treatment), your child faces the constant risk of being infected with ringworm, again and again.
What parts of the body are usually affected?
Among children, there are four parts of the body that are usually infected with ringworm. Don't get intimidated by the Latin names, doctor use them simply to describe which part of the body the ringworm is located. These areas include:
- The body (tinea corporis) – ringworm is present in your child's body, arms or legs.
- The scalp (tinea capitis) – this infection, which affects the scalp and the hair deep into the roots, is highly contagious and persistent. Ringworm of the scalp, almost exclusively, affects children between the ages of 2 to 10. Symptoms may include itching, flaking or scaling (dandruff), small infected bumps, and hair loss. The infected child may have areas that appear bald due to premature hair loss, and there may be small black dots on the exposed scalp.
The groin (tinea cruris) or "jock itch."Ringworm may appear as red, ring-like patches in the groin area, may be itchy or painful but doesn't usually include the scrotum.
The feet (tinea pedis) or "athlete's foot."Ringworm symptoms may appear in the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.
How do I go about treating ringworm in my child?
According to Dr. Vincent Iannelli, author of The Everything Father's First Year Book, a U.S. Board-certified Pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, before administering ringworm cure to your child, you must bear in mind that:
How do I go about treating ringworm in my child?
According to Dr. Vincent Iannelli, author of The Everything Father's First Year Book, a U.S. Board-certified Pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, before administering ringworm cure to your child, you must bear in mind that:
- Ringworm is often a misdiagnosis for other conditions. This means that skin diseases likenumular eczema and pityriasis rosea are often mistakenly diagnosed as ringworm. You have to be certain first that the child indeed has ringworm by having the condition properly diagnosed by a medical professional.
- Athlete's foot or ringworm of the feet is unusual in preteen children. These children often have Juvenile Plantar Dermatosis or a contact dermatitis when they have an itchy red rash on their feet.
- Children undergoing ringworm treatment may continue to attend school or daycare. Encourage your child to constantly observe cleanliness, refrain from scratching the affected area, and avoid direct skin contact with other children at school, to prevent spreading the infection, during the early stages of ringworm treatment.
Treating mild cases (a patch or two) of ringworm of the body, the feet, and the groin can be done at home. Dr. B.D. Schmitt, author of "Your Child's Health," (Bantam Books) suggests the following over-the-counter antifungal creams or sprays:
- Tinactin (generic name: Tolnaftate)
- Micatin (generic name: Miconazole)
- Lotrimin (generic name: Clotrimazole)
- Nizoral (generic name: Ketoconazole)
- Lamisil (generic name: Terbinafine)
Any of these medications are quite effective in the treatment of ringworm in your child. Ringworm usually responds well to homecare medications within 3 to 4 weeks.
Tinea Capitis
On the other hand, ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is difficult to treat and may require several months of oral antifungal medication. Call your doctor if your child has ringworm of the scalp. Homecare ringworm treatment is not very effective in curing tinea capitis.
Because the scalp ringworm infection is deep down in the hair roots, your child must take medicine by mouth in order to cure it. Your doctor will prescribe a medicine by mouth to be taken daily with fatty foods such as milk, yogurt or ice cream, to increase absorption.
Treatment for scalp ringworm may include:
Oral Medication like –
- Griseofulvin ( for example: Fulvicin or Grifulvin)
- Terbinafine (for ex. Lamisil)
- Itraconazole (for ex. Sporanox)
- Fluconazole ((for ex. Diflucan)
- Selsun®Blue (containing Selenium Sulfide)
How do I prevent my child from getting infected with ringworm?
Like they always say "prevention is better than cure." The same goes with ringworm, if your child don't have it, try your best for him or her not to have it.
In truth, ringworm is difficult to prevent because the fungi that cause this infection can be found practically anywhere. However, if you take some basic steps, ringworm infection can be prevented. Always encourage your child to:
- Be clean and hygienic as much as possible
- Be aware of the risks of infection
- Avoid direct skin contact with infected persons
- Wear protective footwear like flip-flops, sandals, or shoes when walking in infection-prone areas like the gym, public swimming pool decks, public baths, etc.
- Avoid skin contact with pets suspected to be ringworm-infected
- Never borrow or lend personal items like clothing, caps, brushes, etc.
I hope this has served to clarify some things regarding this infection and has helped you in determining the most effective way to care for your child. Ringworm treatment can be successful and infection can be prevented when we know what we're up against. Let's keep our children healthy.
Ringworm Treatment: Risk Factors
Ringworm is highly contagious. Understanding this fact is essential to successful ringworm treatment. Through direct skin-to-skin contact, ringworm can be passed from one person to another or from infected animals (cats and dogs) to humans. As a carrier of ringworm, you or your infected pet will remain infectious for as long as the fungus remains present in the skin lesion.
Ringworm can also be spread through contact with infected objects such as personal items (like combs, towels, hairbrushes, clothing, headgears, exercise mats) or infected surfaces in public bathing areas, pool decks, locker rooms, and gyms.
As noted in the Mayo Clinic article, "the organisms that cause ringworm thrive in damp, close environments. Warm, humid settings that promote heavy sweating also favors its spread. Excessive perspiration washes away fungus-killing skin oils in your skin, making it more prone to infection. Athletes are at higher risk of ringworm."
In the past, there has been numerous cases of ringworm outbreak among athletes, wrestlers in particular, in different schools in the country. This is because wrestlers are not onlyprone to excessive sweating, but also have frequent skin-to-skin contact with potentially infected individuals, in the course of practice and during competitions. Moreover, they are constantly exposed to the risk areas mentioned above where ringworm-causing fungi thrive.
"Ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers, and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm."
The Mayo Clinic article also pointed out that "ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm." For ringworm treatment to be effective and successful in such cases, both your child and the pet need to be treated for ringworm.
Of course, adult pet-owners are obviously at risk too of acquiring the disease from infected pets, although the probability is lesser since adults are more hygiene-conscious than children. People who are constantly exposed to the soil, like farm workers and, again, playing children are also at high risk of getting infected. Many different types of ringworm-causing fungi are present in the soil.
Others at increased risk of ringworm include "people with weakened immune systems, such as people with diabetes or HIV/AIDS. If you have atopic dermatitis — a chronic, skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin — you may be more susceptible to ringworm. The barrier in your skin that normally protects you from viral, bacterial and fungal infections is often weakened or compromised. Some people may be genetically prone to this type of infection."
Again, ringworm treatment, depending on the severity of the infection, consists of either topical treatment (applied to the affected area of your skin) or oral medication. The latter, oftentimes, requires prescription by a medical professional.
RELEVANT LINKS:
Ringworm can also be spread through contact with infected objects such as personal items (like combs, towels, hairbrushes, clothing, headgears, exercise mats) or infected surfaces in public bathing areas, pool decks, locker rooms, and gyms.
As noted in the Mayo Clinic article, "the organisms that cause ringworm thrive in damp, close environments. Warm, humid settings that promote heavy sweating also favors its spread. Excessive perspiration washes away fungus-killing skin oils in your skin, making it more prone to infection. Athletes are at higher risk of ringworm."
In the past, there has been numerous cases of ringworm outbreak among athletes, wrestlers in particular, in different schools in the country. This is because wrestlers are not onlyprone to excessive sweating, but also have frequent skin-to-skin contact with potentially infected individuals, in the course of practice and during competitions. Moreover, they are constantly exposed to the risk areas mentioned above where ringworm-causing fungi thrive.
"Ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers, and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm."
The Mayo Clinic article also pointed out that "ringworm often occurs in young children. Outbreaks of ringworm are common in schools, child care centers and infant nurseries. Children with pets are at increased risk of ringworm." For ringworm treatment to be effective and successful in such cases, both your child and the pet need to be treated for ringworm.
Of course, adult pet-owners are obviously at risk too of acquiring the disease from infected pets, although the probability is lesser since adults are more hygiene-conscious than children. People who are constantly exposed to the soil, like farm workers and, again, playing children are also at high risk of getting infected. Many different types of ringworm-causing fungi are present in the soil.
Others at increased risk of ringworm include "people with weakened immune systems, such as people with diabetes or HIV/AIDS. If you have atopic dermatitis — a chronic, skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin — you may be more susceptible to ringworm. The barrier in your skin that normally protects you from viral, bacterial and fungal infections is often weakened or compromised. Some people may be genetically prone to this type of infection."
Again, ringworm treatment, depending on the severity of the infection, consists of either topical treatment (applied to the affected area of your skin) or oral medication. The latter, oftentimes, requires prescription by a medical professional.
RELEVANT LINKS:
MayoClinic.com medical resource service by the highly-respected Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): "Your Online Source for Credible Health Information"
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): "Your Online Source for Credible Health Information"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)