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Definition
- Skin infection with 1 or more ring-shaped spots
- Has a rough edge and clearing of the center
- Caused by a fungus
Health Information
Symptoms
- Round pink patch
- Clearing of the center as the patch grows
- Raised, rough, scaly border
- Usually ½ to 1 inch (12–25 mm) in size
- Ring slowly increases in size
- Mildly itchy
Cause
- A fungus infection of the skin. It is not caused by a worm.
- Can often be spread to humans from puppies or kittens who have it
- Rarely, can be spread human-to-human. It requires direct skin contact to be passed this way. An exception is that an epidemic from ringworm can occur among wrestlers. This is because of close body contact during matches.
- Sometimes, caused by fungus in the soil.
Prevention of Recurrent Ringworm
- Avoid contact with infected pets until they are treated by a vet.
Care Advice
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Overview:
- Ringworm is a fungus infection of the skin.
- Often it’s caught from puppies or kittens that have it.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
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Antifungal Cream:
- Use Lamisil, Micatin or Lotrimin cream 2 times per day. No prescription is needed.
- Put it on the rash and 1 inch (2.5 cm) beyond its borders.
- Continue the cream for at least 7 days after the rash is cleared.
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What to Expect:
- It goes away in 3 to 4 weeks.
- If it comes back, suspect the household puppy or kitten.
- Take your animal to the vet for diagnosis and treatment.
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Return to School:
- Your child doesn’t have to miss any child care or school for ringworm.
- Sometimes, ringworm of the skin can be passed on to others. It requires direct skin-to-skin contact.
- The pet type cannot be spread from your child to other children. It is only passed from animal to human.
- After 48 hours of treatment, ringworm does not spread to others at all
- Can return to wrestling after 3 days of treatment. Continue treatment until gone.
Call Your Doctor If
- Rash gets bigger or spreads after 1 week on treatment
- Rash is not gone by 4 weeks
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Author: Barton Schmitt MD, FAAP
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