Ringworm Symptoms And Treatment


Infection: Ringworm Symptoms, Ringworm Treatment

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm, despite its name is not a worm and has nothing to do with worms. It is in fact a fungal infection. The reason for its name is due to what it looks like. That is, it appears as a round circle or ring on the skin of the patient.

Very closely related to Ringworm is a condition known as Jock Itch where there is a fungal infection in the groin.

A common name for ringworm is tinea. Depending upon whereabouts on your body the ringworm appears will determine it's precise name, for example if the ringworm appears on the head or scalp, it's known as tinea capitis, if it is on the body, then it is known as tinea corporis and if the ringworm is found on the feet, then it is known as tinea pedis or more commonly athletes foot.

Ringworm is mostly found in children; however, it can be caught by anybody of any age.

The ringworm looks like a round ring shaped patch on the skin which will be red and silvery with scales. It can also be quite itchy. The ring spreads outwards and eventually the centre will heal and look like normal skin, leaving a red ring.

Scalp and head ringworm infections can cause baldness at the point where the ringworm is.

What causes Ringworm?

The fungal spores which cause ringworm are around all of us everyday. They are found in the soil, on other people and also on a variety of animals. Usually, they enter through a break in the skin where they are then able to infect the patient.

The environment where ringworm thrives best is in warm damp areas, so in places where you sweat a lot are absolutely perfect for the fungal spores to thrive.

There are a number of ways that ringworm can infect you. It can be passed to you from other people or animals very easily due to its high contagious level. Any high levels of contact from either pets or from working livestock on farms can pass on ringworm to people very easily. When it comes to person to person contamination, it usually happens when people share combs, or unwashed clothes. Unwashed surfaces in swimming pools are also very good places to catch ringworm.

Diagnosing Ringworm

Ringworm is very easy to diagnose. Usually, the characteristics of ringworm i.e. the round red scaly ring are enough just on their own. However, doctors could also take a scraping off the affected skin or in the case of head or scalp ringworm a hair off the patient and then look at it under a microscope where confirmation of the diagnosis can be carried out.

What is the Treatment of Ringworm?

Depending upon whether or not you're suffering from head or scalp ringworm or whether you're suffering from ringworm on your skin, will determine what type of treatment you will receive.

If you can catch the condition early enough, then you should be able to purchase an anti fungal cream from your pharmacist which should cure your skin ringworm or in the case of head/scalp ringworm, an oral anti fungal medication.

However, if the cream or oral medication doesn't appear to be eradicating the ringworm, then a trip to your doctor will be required. He will then probably prescribe a slightly different anti fungal medicine with different active ingredients.

If the ringworm is very inflamed and/or irritated, then the doctor may also prescribe a topical corticosteroid in order to soothe these symptoms. This is commonly the case when an area of eczema is infected by ringworm.

For all patients who are suffering from ringworm, it is very important to have a strict routine in order to deal with it. That includes keeping the affected area dry and cleanDon't share towels and wash bedding and night clothes regularly (ideally once a day).

Wash the affected area gently but thoroughly every day
Change your socks and underwear daily
Avoid scratching and touching the irritated area

It is possible that the ringworm could move from one affected area to the other. Also the broken skin caused by scratching the ringworm, could lead to other infections as the skin is broken.

Ringworm is a very common contagious condition caused by a fungus and not by worms. With the correct treatment and care, in the vast majority of cases, will just be uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, it is important to remember that if you are in any doubt, then visit your doctor.

If you would like to read more about Ringworm and also Eczema, then please visit these sites www.ringworm-treatment.info and www.treatment-eczema.info for more information on these conditions.


Hot Topics In Infection

    Plantar Warts Explained

    Warts (including plantar warts) are a viral (verruca vulgaris) infection of the skin. They are contracted by coming in direct contact with the virus.

    If you've ever stepped barefoot into a locker ro...

Most Recent Infection Supplements

Newly Popular Health Articles

    Dealing With Your Childs Food Allergy

    Food allergies are a growing concern and even more so with our children. In the USA alone there are as many as 7 million people living with a life threatening food allergy many of whi...

    Tooth Whitening Choosing The Best Method

    In today's image conscious society an increasing number of people are following the example of Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Victoria Beckham, Nicole Kidman and a host of other celebrities and add...

    How To Treat Sleep Deprivation Using CPAP

    Treating sleep deprivation using CPAP is considered as an effective treatment strategy. Sleep derivation is the condition in which the patient cannot experience a continuous sleep. It is considered to...

    Plantar Warts Explained

    Warts (including plantar warts) are a viral (verruca vulgaris) infection of the skin. They are contracted by coming in direct contact with the virus.

    If you've ever stepped barefoot into a locker ro...

    Is Lasik Surgery Covered By Insurance?

    Lasik surgery is an eye vision correction method that has been growing in popularity. Lasik surgery can greatly improve eyesight, eliminating the use of eye glasses or contact lenses. It's a relativel...

    Dental Plan - Looking After Your Financial Health Too!

    As the cost of living seems to go up almost every time you turn around, finding ways to save becomes more and more important. And yet, despite the almost instinctual urge to budget where possible, it ...

    Is Low Carb Dieting Right For You

    If everyone had the identical body type and body chemistry, it would be very simple to have a one size fits all approach to dieting and losing weight. Unfortunately weight loss is mor...

    Diet Soda; Is It Good Or Bad If You Are On A Diet?

    The debate over whether diet soda is a dieter's friend or a dieter's enemy seems to become more heated every day.

    One side is saying diet soda is a great beverage for people trying to lose weight an...

    Functional Food: Preventing Diseases and Promoting Pet Health

    Food and diet play an important role in health. Every day, research in fields such as epidemiology and nutritional biochemistry teach us more about this relationship. Through scientific investigation ...

    Mosquito Bites - Remedy And Repellents

    It's a nice summer day and you're relaxing in your yard. Suddenly, you feel something bite you. You may begin to itch, when another bite takes place, and then another. It's those pesky mosquitoes agai...

Interesting Today:

Most Recent Health Blogs:

Releated to Health:

Infection Links: