Ringworm is a mildly contagious fungus that can be contracted in crowded settings via person-to-person contact, sharing tainted personal items, and by using public swimming pools. Kids can also get this fungal skin disease through contact with infected dogs and cats. Ringworm causes raised, ring-like lesions on the skin that appear smooth in the center, and bumpy around the edges.
Treatments for Ringworm
Over-the-counter antifungal creams such as miconazole, clotrimazole, and tolnaftate will effectively treat body ringworm at home. If there is no noticeable difference in the child’s ringworm after a week of treatment, contact a pediatrician, as a more aggressive approach may be required. Always speak to a doctor before applying topical creams to a young child.
When ringworm is present on a child’s scalp, it requires medical treatment because scalp ringworm won’t go away with over-the-counter meds. Prescription antifungal medications, and a shampoo that contains selenium sulfide are generally required to manage fungal infections of the scalp. Scalp ringworm is not as obvious as ringworm on the skin; it can easily be mistaken as dandruff patches in the head, and may produce hair loss in the infected area.
As long as there are ringworm lesions present, the fungus stays contagious, so continue treatment until they disappear or until the child’s doctor says otherwise. Completely ridding a youngster of ringworm can take a few weeks.
Minimize the Spread of Ringworm
Moist environments promote the growth and spread of ringworm, so keep the ringworm lesions clean and dry. Avoid covering the fungal skin disease with bandaids, as this will only create the damp, dark conditions ringworm needs to thrive. Ringworm in a child can itch, so encourage a youngster not to touch or scratch.
A child can typically return to school following treatment (clear this with a doctor), but care must be taken to prevent the spread of the skin fungus to others. Dress the child in loose-fitting clothes that cover the infected area. This will allow air to circulate around the fungus, while preventing other kids from coming into contact with the lesions.
To prevent the spread of ringworm in the home, encourage hand washing, launder bed linen, and towels daily until the infection clears. Also, never let an infected child use a swimming pool, and disinfect the bathtub and shower with a bleach-water solution after each use. If the ringworm is on the scalp, wash hair accessories, combs, and brushes with a selenium sulfide shampoo after the infected child uses them.
Proper treatment of ringworm in a child, can avoid serious problems, and prevent this fungal skin disease from spreading to others.
References:
The American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 7-22-09
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