Ringworm (Tinea)
A skin infection caused by a fungus that can affect a child’s scalp, skin, fingers, toenails, or feet. The disease has nothing to do with either worms or rings. Scalp ringworm is the most common fungal infection in children.
Cause
Ringworm is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with infected people or pets, or by indirect contact with items such as barber clippers, shower stalls, or floors. Children can get ringworm from playing with infected dogs or cats, or from sharing combs, brushes, headphones, towels, pillows, hats, or sofas.
Symptoms
The infection usually begins as a small pimple that gets larger and larger, leaving scaly patches of temporary baldness; infected hair is brittle and breaks off easily. Sometimes there is a yellow cuplike crusty area. The infection usually appears 10 to 14 days after contact.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) involves scaly, temporary bad patches with dandruff-like white scales. The hair may be dull, and the infection may affect only one part of the scalp or may spread over the entire head. A severe case may include fever and swollen glands below the hairline.
Ringworm of the nails causes thick, discolored, brittle, or chalky and friable nails.
Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) causes a flat and ring-shaped lesion; the edge is red and may be dry and scaly, or moist and crusted. The center area is clear and appears normal. Symptoms occur four to 10 days after contact. The rings can appear on face, legs, arms, or trunk.
Ringworm of the foot appears as a scaling or cracking of the skin, especially between the toes.
Diagnosis
Microscopic inspection of infected hair or skin scraping will reveal certain characteristics of the fungus. The doctor may use an ultraviolet light to diagnose ringworm.
Treatment
Antifungal medication such as griseofulvin can be given by mouth or applied to the skin. An antifungal ointment applied directly to the scalp will stop the ringworm from spreading to other areas of the head. Boggy raised areas of the scalp will require a special cream and a cotton cap to cover the scalp until the areas dry. The infected hair will need to be clipped and a special shampoo used.
Body ringworm is easier to treat; a variety of antifungal creams will work. The patient should wash well with soap and water and remove all scabs and crusts. Antifungal cream should then be rubbed into lesions.
Prevention
Children should not share towels, hats, combs, or clothing of an infected person. Good grooming and hygiene and frequent checks of a child’s scalp can prevent the disease. Once an infection has been diagnosed, all contaminated articles must be cleaned to prevent further infection. Combs, brushes, hats, scarves, and bedding must be cleaned in hot soapy water.
Cause
Ringworm is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with infected people or pets, or by indirect contact with items such as barber clippers, shower stalls, or floors. Children can get ringworm from playing with infected dogs or cats, or from sharing combs, brushes, headphones, towels, pillows, hats, or sofas.
Symptoms
The infection usually begins as a small pimple that gets larger and larger, leaving scaly patches of temporary baldness; infected hair is brittle and breaks off easily. Sometimes there is a yellow cuplike crusty area. The infection usually appears 10 to 14 days after contact.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) involves scaly, temporary bad patches with dandruff-like white scales. The hair may be dull, and the infection may affect only one part of the scalp or may spread over the entire head. A severe case may include fever and swollen glands below the hairline.
Ringworm of the nails causes thick, discolored, brittle, or chalky and friable nails.
Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) causes a flat and ring-shaped lesion; the edge is red and may be dry and scaly, or moist and crusted. The center area is clear and appears normal. Symptoms occur four to 10 days after contact. The rings can appear on face, legs, arms, or trunk.
Ringworm of the foot appears as a scaling or cracking of the skin, especially between the toes.
Diagnosis
Microscopic inspection of infected hair or skin scraping will reveal certain characteristics of the fungus. The doctor may use an ultraviolet light to diagnose ringworm.
Treatment
Antifungal medication such as griseofulvin can be given by mouth or applied to the skin. An antifungal ointment applied directly to the scalp will stop the ringworm from spreading to other areas of the head. Boggy raised areas of the scalp will require a special cream and a cotton cap to cover the scalp until the areas dry. The infected hair will need to be clipped and a special shampoo used.
Body ringworm is easier to treat; a variety of antifungal creams will work. The patient should wash well with soap and water and remove all scabs and crusts. Antifungal cream should then be rubbed into lesions.
Prevention
Children should not share towels, hats, combs, or clothing of an infected person. Good grooming and hygiene and frequent checks of a child’s scalp can prevent the disease. Once an infection has been diagnosed, all contaminated articles must be cleaned to prevent further infection. Combs, brushes, hats, scarves, and bedding must be cleaned in hot soapy water.
Posted in Health and Wellness
Comments (1)
Skin disease is very troublesome, it is difficult to determine the major causes of morbidity.
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