You ever get an itch? Sure you do; we all itch once in a while. The challenge is: Can you get through this article without scratching…nope…you’re already noticing an itchy spot, right?
It’s not a parasite, it’s a fungus! Okay…that video was way out of line…well…maybe not “way out.” Anyway…
Let’s talk a quick bit about ringworm, or tinea, to be more “scientific.” Actually, tinea is a broad term used to describe a type of skin infection. Ringworm is also known as tinea corporis if it’s located on an area without hair and tinea capitis or tinea barbae if it’s found on an area of the scalp or face that has hair. There’s also tinea pedis (the “pedis” is a dead-give-away for “foot” and describer “athlete’s foot”), and tinea cruris (I don’t know where the “cruris” came from; tinea cruris is also known as “jock itch” (uh huh)). There are other forms of tinea:
Ringworm of the face (tinea faciei)
Ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae)
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)
Ringworm of the hands (tinea manus)
Ringworm of the foot (tinea pedis)
Ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium)
Ringworm of the groin (tinea cruris)
Hold the phone! Remember: I am a school nurse. I am a registered nurse. What I am not is a physician or a dermatologist. I cannot diagnose and am limited on the medical advice I can offer. This information is just that: INFORMATION. Seek the direction of a physician before implementing any of this information. And, please, don’t medicate any child without a physician’s order or parental permission (topical application is not an exception).
Causes of Ringworm
Ringworm is caused by Dermatophytes. Dermatophytes describe three types of fungus that cause skin disease. So, no! There’s actually NO WORM involved. “The ancient Greeks called ringworm ‘herpes,’ meaning ‘ring,’ while the ancient Romans called it ‘tinea,’ referring to the larval stage of a clothes moth. Characterized by round skin lesions (rings) and the early belief that the infection was caused by a parasite (worm), the English word ‘ringworm’ was born sometime in the early 15th century.” . Well, dang! There goes my fishing plans! (oh…never mind…bad joke).
Ask the parents this question: “Do you have a cat?” More than likely, the child has a pet cat or has come into contact with a kitty. Not to dish on cats because contracting ringworm from a dog, goat, or a pet monkey is possible, too. (I always wanted a pet monkey.) Nonetheless, ringworm cases are more often found in children and especially in children who have cats as pets.
You Can Catch Ringworm By:
1. Directly in person-to-person contact.
2. Indirectly by touching an object that has spores from someone else’s active fungal infection.
3. When touching, petting, or grooming an animal with the infection. Cats aren’t the only critters with the cooties.
4. Digging in the soil. As a homesteader (http://www.backtothehomestead.com), this is somewhat troubling to know.
5. I am sure you’ve heard a parent remark, “My kid caught ringworm from school.” Nope, schools don’t manufacture funguses and inoculate unsuspecting children (again…bad joke…sorry).
Identifying Ringworm
I describe the lesions in my documentation as “red, dry, and ‘itchy’ areas that are ringworm-like in nature.” There are so many other ways to describe the lesion, such as a “round, lesion-like area.” The area will start as a red and dry patch and then form a ring pattern. It’s almost like a small circle with a center that appears clear of the infection. But this is not always the case. Some of the infected areas will appear like round/oval, scaly, dry patches. Sometimes the areas appear atypical, as if there is just a rash in the area that is really, really itchy. However, the ring pattern gave ringworm its name; not every person who’s infected develops the rings.
Treatment of Ringworms
The CDC suggests treatment options from topical Lotrimin to oral Diflucan.
Commonly, for areas not covered in hair, a topical antifungal cream is used. If the ringworm is found in the hair, an oral antifungal is used (for tinea unguium as well). Yes, just that simple…most of the time. Parents may not know this and feel they need to rush o