This is an automatically translated article.
Ringworm is a very common skin disease in children. Although not a disease that is too dangerous to health, if not treated properly, ringworm will cause infections, skin sores and leave scars on the skin, causing unsightly. Therefore, how to treat ringworm in babies is very important.
1. What are the causes of ringworm in babies?
Ringworm in babies causes itchy, uncomfortable skin, makes babies anorexic and fussy. At this time, the child will often scratch the itchy spot, thus making the skin condition worse.
Fungi belonging to the group of Dermatophytes are the main cause of ringworm in babies. Besides, because the skin structure of children is still young and soft, it is easily affected by external factors. In addition to the above main factors, there are a few causes leading to ringworm in children such as:
Genetics: If a parent or family member has had ringworm, there is a high chance that your child will also have ringworm. Laos. Children with sensitive skin are also more susceptible to ringworm. Children with ringworm can be infected from people around such as parents, people holding the baby. Children who do not have good skin hygiene also increase the risk of ringworm. Some children get sick due to exposure to animal hair or the harsh climate where they live also increases the risk of disease. These are considered to be the root causes of ringworm in babies. Once the cause is determined, your doctor will advise you on the appropriate treatment.
2. What are the symptoms of a newborn with ringworm?
Ringworm usually appears in each location on the body. Each location where the disease occurs, children have different symptoms.
2.1 Scalp ringworm When a child has ringworm on the scalp, also known as scalp ringworm, the child will have symptoms such as: a small red and itchy rash on the scalp. The hair on this skin is shed and sometimes in severe cases the child's scalp can be cracked and granulomas appear.
2.2 Ringworm on the skin of the child's feet or hands Ringworm on the skin of the child's feet or hands will appear between the toes and hands. At this point, your baby's skin will have a red, white patch that itches and forms a scab. The incidence of ringworm in babies is usually less, because they mainly appear in older children.
2.3 Ringworm on the whole body and face In the whole body and face, ringworm will appear, most often around the eyes, eyelids and under the ears. Over time, the diameter of the ringworm can enlarge as the fungus spreads.
2.4 Ringworm in the groin area In the groin area, there will be small patches of red or red skin on both sides of the genitals and these patches will gradually get worse. The lesions are mainly concentrated around the skin folds in the child's groin.
When the child has ringworm in the groin, if the child has a rash, the child is often very uncomfortable, itchy and tends to scratch strongly on the skin that will often be damaged.
3. How should infants with ringworm be treated?
In fact, when detected early, the treatment of ringworm in children is usually not difficult. Parents can self-treat at home for their children in the following ways:
3.1 Using topical medications Ringworm is caused by a fungus, so it is recommended to use anti-fungal active drugs to treat children. In particular, a few drugs that parents can refer to such as:
Miconazole Clotrimazole Lamisil Terbinafine When treating, parents only need to apply a thin layer on the skin according to the instructions. Note, the treatment should be carried out under the direction of a doctor, pharmacist, because the skin of a newborn baby is very thin and sensitive, so be very careful in terms of dosage and medicine suitable for health. of children.
3.2 Combination of topical and oral drugs Treating ringworm for infants in combination with topical and oral medications is also a method that parents should refer to. The case of using both drugs in combination is usually when the topical application does not work or the child has severe ringworm.
At this time, the mother is required to take her child to a medical facility to be examined by a doctor and prescribed and guided on the use of each drug. The combination of both topical and oral will help the treatment process in children be faster.
In the process of treating ringworm for babies, parents should listen to the advice of professionals, absolutely do not use leaves or folk remedies for treatment, because this exists. There are many risks to the health of children.
4. What should be done to prevent ringworm in children?
Ringworm is inherently a skin disease, so treatment or prevention is usually not too complicated. To prevent newborns from getting ringworm, parents should pay special attention to the following issues.
Hygiene for children: The disease often arises because children do not have good skin hygiene, so the best way to prevent ringworm is to clean the baby's body well. Dress your child in cool, sweat-absorbent fabrics and regularly change bed sheets and pillows. Do not share items: Children's resistance is still very immature, so mothers pay attention not to let them share items with others. Especially if someone in the family has ringworm, this needs special attention. Do not contact pets: When children are young, parents do not let their children come into close contact with animals, because pet hair is also one of the causes of skin diseases of children. Above is all important information about ringworm in babies, parents should consult carefully to have appropriate care for their children.
Vinmec International General Hospital system is the address for receiving and examining diseases and common 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.
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.
