Ringworm in infants and children

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Ringworm is a contagious skin infection caused by a fungus. Ringworm can be itchy and uncomfortable, but is not painful or dangerous. Fungi that affect the scalp are called tinea capitis, fungi that affect the body are called hand and foot fungus.

1. Symptoms of ringworm

Newborns with ringworm will have one or more scaly patches. Looking like patches, ringworm is usually round or long, about 1cm in diameter, with a smoother center and surrounded by a ring of scales. The patches can appear anywhere on the body.
If your child has ringworm on the scalp, you may notice scaly patches or bald spots, as well as hair loss in between these places. It is easy to confuse ringworm of the scalp with seborrheic dermatitis, a common condition in infants. Your doctor will review and differentiate these two conditions.
Ringworm in children can develop into a kerion complication in response to the fungus. Manifestations are a moist, inflamed area on the scalp, with small pustules resembling cystic acne. When treating ringworm on the scalp for children, the patches will gradually peel off.

2. The route of infection with ringworm in children

Symptoms of ringworm usually appear 4-14 days after:
Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal (most commonly puppies and kittens); Sharing items with an infected person or pet (such as towels, combs, brushes, clothing, or pillows); Touching a contaminated surface (such as the floor in a pool area, shower, or locker room). Ringworm is no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment, so you can ask your child care service or school to see when your child will be allowed to go back to school.

3. Diagnosis and treatment of ringworm

To diagnose ringworm in children, your doctor will take a skin or hair sample (painless) and examine it under a microscope or send it to a lab for culture.
For ringworm on the body, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Apply twice a day to the rash and spread to the surrounding area about 1cm. Then wash your hands thoroughly. It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks for an infant to have ringworm to clear up. Accordingly, continue to apply the cream for 1 week after the rash is gone.
Some children are sensitive to antifungal creams, so try a little at first to see how your child reacts. Consult your doctor about other alternative treatment options if the condition does not improve. If your child has severe ringworm, the doctor may prescribe stronger medication than just an over-the-counter cream. In rare cases, infants with ringworm also need medication.
Ringworm on the scalp can be more difficult to treat and takes 6-8 weeks to clear up. Most likely, your doctor will prescribe oral antifungal medications as well as medicated shampoos.
Warning: Parents should not use steroid cream to treat skin patches suspected to be ringworm. While it can help relieve itching in your child, it can make the illness worse and increase the risk of it spreading.
Ringworm in children can lead to infection by scratching the skin, so you should keep your fingernails short and monitor your child closely. If you notice your baby scratching a lot, consider putting gloves or small socks on his hands while he sleeps. Talk to your doctor if the patches do not improve after about 1 week of treatment.

4. Preventing recurrence of ringworm in children

It's difficult to completely protect children from ringworm , but you can reduce the risk by:
Check your pets: See if they have any scaly patches that prevent hair from growing. If so, take your pet to the vet for treatment. In fact, even if you don't find symptoms in your pet, you should still get them checked out if your child still gets ringworm again. Good hygiene: Regularly bathe the child, wash and dry the toes. Also, make sure your baby wears clean socks and underwear every day. Do not go barefoot: Specialized swimming shoes and sandals are especially necessary in public swimming pools and gym locker rooms. Do not share items: Tell children not to share personal items with friends and siblings, including towels, combs, hats, pillows, hair bows, clothes, and more. Washing: Wash bed sheets, towels, and clothing that came in contact with ringworm in hot water. Disinfect: Sanitize surfaces in the home, especially those with pets. Ringworm can be killed with common disinfectants or cleaning agents. Be careful not to mix cleaning products. Watch for symptoms in other family members and seek immediate treatment if needed.

Ringworm, although not dangerous for children, makes them feel itchy and uncomfortable. Therefore, when using therapeutic drugs, there is no improvement, parents should take their children to medical centers for examination and treatment, to avoid skin infections in children becoming more serious.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining respiratory diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, respiratory infection, pneumonia in children, .... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline for support.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: babycenter.com