Getting Acquainted with Ringworm
Having a ringworm infection is synonymous to having a Tinea
infection. It is an infection that may affect the skin, the scalp,
the feet, and the groin area. They are more commonly known as
tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea pedis, or tinea cruris,
respectively. You may either have just one area infected or
several at the same time.
What is a ringworm?
A ringworm is called such because of its characteristic ring
formation on the skin. It was thought at first to be caused by a
worm or parasite underneath the skin’s surface until they
discovered the real cause of a ringworm infection: fungus.
Having a ringworm infection is quite common with children but
may also be seen in people of different ages. It is quite
contagious and mere direct skin contact or even through
contaminated things can the ringworm infection be transferred.
This includes combs, unlaundered clothes, and even the surfaces of
showers or pools. Pets, especially cats are viable carriers of a
ringworm infection.
Fungi love moist areas therefore ringworm infections are
commonly seen in moist areas of the body, often due to sweating.
It can also occur when small injuries occur to the scalp, nails,
and skin.
Symptoms of a ringworm infection
How do you know that you have a ringworm infection and not any
other fungal infection? A characteristic feature of a ringworm
infection is the appearance of a ring like patch. The edges of the
patches are well defined and elevated, usually redder than the
skin inside it. It is quite itchy and may even cause blisters. For
scalp or hair ringworm infections, it causes bald patches to
appear. Infected nails usually become a darker color, thicken and
crumble.
Diagnosis of a ringworm infection
Just by looking at the infected part and its appearance, the
physician or health provider can correctly make a correct
diagnosis of a ringworm infection. But for an infection that
cannot be determined by just looking at it, then a Wood’s lamp
is used to make the fungus appear on the skin as fluoresced
organisms. Confirmatory tests to accurately give an accurate and
definite diagnosis include taking a scraping of the infected skin
area and inspecting it microscopically.
Treatment for a ringworm infection
Symptoms of a ringworm infection can subside within a month,
even without a doctor’s consultation, as long as there are no
other conditions present. But, for those whose infections are
quite in their advanced stages, an immediate trip to the doctor
may be needed to get antifungal medications for the skin as well
as oral antifungal medications. But the basic things to remember
in a ringworm infection are the following:
Maintain the cleanliness of the skin. Avoid keeping it damp
or moist since fungi thrive on these kinds of places. You may use drying powders or antifungal creams to spread
over the infection. If they contain antifungal agents such as
clotrimazole and miconazole, then all the better to speed up
recovery. Launder night clothes and sheets daily while the infection
is still present. Avoid sharing towels, brushes, clothing, and
other items for personal use with other people. Pets who have the infection must also receive treatment for
it to avoid further spreading of the fungi.
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