What to do about Ringworm?

Symptoms

Ringworm can affect any part of the body. The symptoms typically depend on which part is infected —

• Scalp (Tinea capitis):

Itchy, scaly, and red bald patches which can grow in size if the infection spreads. It is more common in children than among adults.

• Beard (Tinea barbae):

Scaly, itchy, and red spots on the chin, cheeks, and upper neck. It can also cause bald patches. These may look like acne and fill with pus.

• Groin (Tinea cruris):

Also known as `jock itch’, the infection occurs around the groin, buttocks, and inner thighs. Symptoms include itchy, scaly, and red spots.

• Feet (Tinea pedis or `athlete’s foot’):

The skin between the toes becomes swollen, itchy, red, and gets peeled off. The infection may spread to your sole and heel and cause blisters.

• Hand (Tinea manuum):

The skin becomes very dry, with cracked palms. In severe cases, the ring-shaped patches can spread to the back of your hand. This is usually caused by touching other affected areas.

• Nails (Tinea unguium):

The affected nails (mostly toenails) may become thick, discolored, and deformed.

Causes

The infection can spread in following ways —

• Human to human:

Ringworm can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It can also be transmitted by sharing or touching contaminated items like towels, combs, or clothes.

• Object to human:

The fungal infection can easily be contracted by touching contaminated objects or surfaces, such as laptops, phones, clothes, towels, brushes, etc.

• Animal to human:

Touching, petting, or grooming infected pet animals like cats and dogs can spread the infection to humans. You can also get ringworm by touching the items the affected animal has come in contact with. The animals usually get the fungi from the environment. Cows, pigs, goats, and horses can also transmit the infection to others.

• Soil to human:

You can get infected if you work with soil or walk barefoot on soil infected with ringworm-causing fungus. However, this method of transmission is rare.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase the risk of getting ringworm are:

• People with weakened immune system

• Living in warm and humid environments because fungi that cause ringworm thrive in such conditions

• Poor hygiene

• Wearing tight-fitting clothes, particularly in a warm and humid climate

• Sportspersons, particularly those playing contact sports like wrestling

• Being in close contact with affected people or animals

• Sharing personal items like combs and towels with someone infected with ringworm

Diagnosis

The doctor can make a diagnosis by looking at the affected areas and asking you about the symptoms. He/she may also scrape some of the itchy and scaly skin and examine it under the microscope.

Treatment

This fungal infection occurs anywhere on the body; treatment depends on where the infection is and its severity.

If the ringworm is on your skin, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications like anti-fungal powder, lotion, or cream. You may need to use this for 2-4 weeks until you have been completely cured. If symptoms don’t clear after 2 weeks, you may require oral medication as prescribed by your doctor. If ringworm is on your scalp or in parts of your body where OTC medicines won’t help, your doctor will prescribe oral anti-fungal medication. Anti-fungal shampoo may help prevent the infection from spreading, but it will not cure it.

While on treatment, disinfect surfaces you touch, as ringworm can stay for months. Wash your clothes, bedsheets, and towels every day with detergent and hot water, dry your skin thoroughly after bathing, and wear loose-fitting clothes.

Prevention

Ringworm is contagious, and it can spread even before symptoms develop. So, here are some ways to reduce the risk of getting infected:

• Keep your skin clean and dry after a shower, especially between the toes. Avoid excessive sweating.

• Avoid sharing combs, brushes, towels, bedsheets, clothes, sports gear or other personal items.

• If you play contact sports, shower immediately after practice or match. Also, keep your sports gear clean and dry.

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and after petting animals.

• Disinfect surfaces regularly if anybody in the house has ringworm.

• Change your socks every day.

• Treat animals if they have ringworms.