Children and Ringworm

There are few things more concerning as a parent than to notice that your child has picked up a disease or infection. And particularly so when that infection is something as unsightly and visibly unsettling as ringworm.

Ringworm is a common malady that affects children of all ages (as well as adults and pets.) Children can acquire ringworm from coming into contact with an infected person or the belongings of an infected person.

Ringworm can also be caught by walking barefoot on soil and touching infected animals and pets: Particularly the kind of pets that generally reside outdoors.

To keep your child safe from ringworm, take the following precautions: Do not allow your child to use anyone else's towels, hairbrushes, hats or shoes.

If any of your child's classmates or siblings are infected with ringworm, make sure your child does not touch the infected person or any of their belongings.

Make sure your child wears flip flops, water shoes or waterproof sandals when in public showers and pools.

Never allow your child to go barefoot outdoors.

If you are concerned that your child may have ringworm, you need to know what to look for. Ringworm of the skin starts as a patchy rash which develops into a red ring on the skin. A ringworm infestation of the scalp first causes scaly red patches that may become crusty and cause hair loss. Ringworm of the feet, also known as "athlete's foot" causes a dry, itchy rash to form on the feet, most commonly between the toes. And ringworm of the nails leads to discolored, thick, crumbly nails.

Catching ringworm early is crucial to preventing unnecessary side effects (such as permanent hair loss with scalp infestation) and discomfort.

Ringworm can be treated by topical creams or orally administered medications. You can find over the counter treatments that can be good in eradicating ringworm, or you can take your child to the pediatrician and request a prescription.

Fortunately, ringworm is not usually as sinister as its name indicates. With the proper treatment, the average case of ringworm can be completely cured within 5-6 days. And of course as previously stated this time can be reduced even further depending on the stage at which the ringworm is disgnosed.

If you are unsure of whether a suspicious skin condition might be ringworm it is imperative that you see your local GP or Dermatologist as soon as possible to avoid misdiagnosis that may result in further more sinister complications.