Ringworm Causes, Prevention and Treatments

Tips to prevent ringwormRingworm is a contagious disease, which spreads through person to person and last for several weeks. Ringworm is a skin disease, which occurs due to fungi known as dermatophytes. Dermatophytes exist on keratin (a hard water-resistant tissue exist in selected parts of the body called skin, nails and scalp. Hence, the infection of ringworm is noticed mostly in these areas. The germs of fungi are very petite and could take place in the household things like comb, towel, dining table, clothes, pet animals, etc. It may spread through infected person to other human being, by getting into animal contact, sharing clothes, towel, bed sheet, combs, etc. Any age group may get issue of ringworm, but mostly, it is seen in small children.

It can develop in any parts of the body, which occurs by fungi, not by a worm. 10-15% is the estimated group of people facing ringworm issues.  Ringworm often, seen in round shape with red and itching skin. Its ignorance may bring chain of the patches; which may further become a serious skin disorder. Here are some of the symptoms of ringworm appearance in different places of the body.

  • Signs of scalp ringworm
    • A stinging minor patches of flaking skin on the scalp
    • Itching and hair loss from patch area
    • Severe itching and oozing of pus from the patch area of ringworm
    • In extreme cases, a formation of kerion takes place, which may spoil the area and could lead to pus emission; that causes fever and lymph gland inflammation.
  • Sign of body ringworm
    • An itching, irritation and red patches skin may get appeared in any part of the body.
    • In some severe cases, the size of ringworm expands day by day, simultaneously.
    • Emission of pus may take place around the ringworm, in extreme cases.
  • Sign of foot ringworm
    • A formation of dry, rough, itchy, and red rash over the toe area.
    • Irritating, blistering, and pus oozing from the affected area, of the skin.
    • Swelling, stinging and blazing of the skin.
  • Sign of jock itching
    • Red and brown sores with oozing pus from the area.
    •  Blistering, and itching of groin area (thighs, or your underwear area).
    • It takes place due to sweating, exercising or by wearing tight clothes.
  • Sign of nails ringworm
    • A thick white, yellow, green or black nail.
    • A nail may further become fragile and may starts breaking down.
    • A skin covering the nails may be itchy, scorch and stinging.

 Prevention steps    

Care and precaution would be the best way to get prevented, from ringworm. The fungi of ringworm take place mainly in the household things like towels, clothes, tables, furniture etc. One should keep their clothes, towel or any usable things clean and dry.

  • Dry the body after taking a bath; do not wear the clothes directly.
  • Maintain your personal towel, comb, and clothes.
  • Do not wear wet clothes; since, they are more likely to cause fungi.
  • Clean your comb regularly
  • Clean and wash your bed, pillow, doormat, regularly.
  • Do not share your personal used things to others. As like clothes, towel, comb, etc.
  • Wash and dry your hand, leg, and toes properly; since, they are the key part to get ringworm. Mostly, it takes place in the rainy season due to moisture. People wearing shoes and socks are at more risk to get fungi attack near the toes and feet. One can avoid wearing it or else keep drying the feet regularly.
  • In rainy season people commonly gets wet; one need to take a bath, dry their body and wear parched clothes; since, long time wet may develop fungi in the form of ringworm in many parts, of the body.
  • Do not scratch the infected area of the skin; since, it may lead to expansion of the skin rashes.
  • Keep cleaning your furniture, tables, utensils, carpet area and kitchen regularly.
  • Make sure that your children should take a bath after playing; since, the sweat appears may get accumulated over the body, and could lead to germ formation. Further, this germ developed in the form of fungi, which gradually leads to ringworm.  This is the main causes of ringworm in small children.

Treatment procedure of ringworm

There are many medicines and tube creams, which can be used to treat and to cure fungi (ringworm) issues. However, before applying wash the affected areas of the skin dry it, and then apply the tube cream. However, an appliance has to be in the prescribed manner. Ask the doctor for the usage or else apply as it is suggested on the tube. If, it is mentioned three times in a day, then apply accordingly, not more than that. Further, in case of medication consult the doctor about its intake procedure. Do not over dose it; since, it may lead to diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and many other health disorders. However, tube cream would be helpful for the breast feeding or pregnant women rather than using tablets; since, it may harm the baby. Moreover, in case of nail infection, antifungal nail paints or anti-fungal nail medicine would be preferable, to treat. However, an antifungal nail tablet works good compared with anti-fungal nail paint, but the medicine may lead to headache, dizziness, vomiting, and nausea, sometime. Furthermore, body ringworm can be treated by applying various creams, gels or anti-fungal spray. Applying this stuff would be more useful than the tablets. Apply the liquid daily over the infected area of the skin, to get rid of ringworm soon. Apply over the outer surface area of the skin to hold the expansion, of the fungus. Further, applying antifungal shampoo over the scalp may reduce the infection, but not the ringworm of the scalp; so, better to use anti-fungal cream over the infectious scalp.

Anton Lawrence
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Ringworm Causes, Prevention and Treatments