$Unique_ID{PAR00139}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Ringworm}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Ringworm Scaly red brown rash fungal rashes antifungal ointment skin
infection fungus infections pet pets animal animals fungi scalp tinea capitis
tinea corporis tinea cruris groin crotch genital genitals athlete's foot feet
tinea pedis ankles legs Antifungal ointments haloprogin clotrimazole
tolnaftate undecylenic acid Whitfield's ointments ultraviolet light culture
cultures culturing microscope griseofulvin fungicide fungicides}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Ringworm


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOM
     - Scaly, red rash

     HOME CARE
     - Ask your doctor to suggest a nonprescription antifungal ointment, and
       apply it to the infected area until the skin is clear.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - If a rash does not improve after several days of home treatment, see
       your doctor.  The rash may not be ringworm.
     - If home treatment seems to make the rash worse, discontinue treatment
       and see your doctor.  The child's skin may be sensitive to the
       medication you are using.


     Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm.  Ringworm
spreads by direct contact with an infected person or pet animal or by indirect
contact with contaminated objects, such as combs, pillows, towels, clothing,
and even the floor.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Different fungi prefer different areas of the body.  Ringworm of the
scalp (tinea capitis) appears as scaly patches with stubs of broken-off hairs.
Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) shows up as round or oval, scaly, red
patches that enlarge as healing proceeds from the center.  Ringworm of the
groin (tinea cruris) is characterized by a scaly, red or brown rash on the
crotch and the genital area, with a sharply defined margin of spread.
Ringworm of the feet (athlete's foot, or tinea pedis) sometimes affects the
ankles and legs as well.

HOME CARE

     Antifungal ointments (such as haloprogin, clotrimazole, tolnaftate,
undecylenic acid, and Whitfield's ointments) can be applied to the infected
area until the skin clears.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Several other common rashes resemble ringworm.  If a rash does not
     improve after several days of home treatment, see your doctor.
  -  The preparations used to treat ringworm may cause another rash on
     sensitive skin.  If the rash worsens or changes in any way, stop home
     treatment and see your doctor.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor can confirm a home diagnosis of ringworm by examining the
rash under ultraviolet light and by culturing a skin scraping and examining
the results under a microscope.  The doctor may prescribe either an antifungal
ointment to be applied to the skin or a medication, such as griseofulvin
fungicide, for the child to take by mouth.

RELATED TOPICS:  Athlete's foot; Pityriasis rosea; Rashes