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Ringworm: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a fungus infection of the skin. Symptoms include a reddish, ring-link rash that is often itchy, flaky, or burns. Ringworm is spread by direct contact with the infected area on a person's skin. Ringworm is no longer contagious when the rash or legion starts to shrink.
Ringworm is a superficial skin disease caused by infection with one of several types of fungus. It typically causes circular areas of hair loss, which is how the condition got its name. Ringworm has nothing to do with a worm. The medical term for ringworm is dermatophytosis because the fungi that cause it are called dermatophytes. Dog Racing
Source: houndism.com
Ringworm is caused by one of several species of fungus. Ringworm is the most common infectious skin disease on cats and is seen less frequently in rabbits, dogs, and ferrets.

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

Some pets show no clinical signs of infection, but may carry infectious spores on their fur and skin. The fungi invade the hair follicles and cause the hair shaft to break off at the skin line. The most common signs of ringworm are: broken and brittle hair, partial or patchy hair loss, scales or crust, multiple scales, swollen or ruptured follicles on the chin and back, and areas of self-mutilation.
The symptoms vary depending on the area of infection. On the scalp, it starts out as a small pimple that becomes larger, often leaving bald patches. On the body, the red round areas feel itchy. On the foot, it can cause dry, cracking, and scaly skin, which is sometimes referred to as athletes foot. On the nail,s it will cause a thickening of the nail bed, discoloration, brittleness, and sometimes disintegration of the nail. Ringworm of the groin area feels very itchy and is sometimes referred to as Jock Itch.
Ringworm infections grow in the form of a ring. They are red, itchy, raised and scaly. The affected skin peels and become very sore. It most often affects the trunk and scalp. When the scalp is infected by ringworm, it forms round, itchy and bald patches. If nails are affected, they become discolored, thick and scaly. Ringworm of the feet is very itchy and cause cracking between the toes.

How is Ringworm Transmitted?

Your pets can get ringworm from many sources. The fungi are very hardy in the environment; they can live for years. All it takes is skin contact with a spore to cause infection. Infected animals are continuously dropping spore-covered hairs, as the infected hairs break off, into the environment. Some animals are carriers, who never show signs of skin irritation. Spores can also be picked up through the soil.
You can get ringworm from physical contact with a person or animal that has the fungal infection. You can also get it from the floors of public showers, locker rooms, and damp surfaces. This is the most common way of contracting ringworm. You can also get ringworm from objects that an infected person has touched such as hats, combs, brushes, bed linens, telephones, mats, and shower stalls.

What is the treatment for Ringworm?

Ringworm on the body can be treated with an antifungal ointment. This usually does not have to be a prescription medication, ask the pharmacist what product they recommend. The ointment must be applied 3-4 times throughout the day, until the area is healed. Ringworm on the scalp, however, will take a trip to the doctor to cure with an oral medication.

Can ringworm be prevented?

Ringworm infections thrive in warm, moist conditions, so the skin should be properly dried after washing, especially in hot weather. Do not share comb, hairbrush, face cloths, towels or other personal-care items. To prevent athlete’s foot from spreading make sure that those with ringworm infection wash their hands after touching affected areas. Application of tal***** or other drying powder to the affected area may prevent ringworm from returning after treatment. ...
Ringworm infections thrive in warm, moist conditions, so the skin should be properly dried after washing, especially in hot weather. Do not share comb, hairbrush, face cloths, towels or other personal-care items. To prevent athlete’s foot from spreading make sure that those with ringworm infection wash their hands after touching affected areas. Application of tal***** or other drying powder to the affected area may prevent ringworm from returning after treatment. ...

What is ringworm of the skin?

Ringworm is a contagious skin infection caused by a fungus. The ringworm fungus feeds on the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. It thrives best on skin that is moist, hot, and hidden from the light. In the United States, 20 percent of the population has been affected by ringworm. The medical term for ringworm is ‘Tinea.’ Tinea is a Latin name for a growing worm. Adding another word to it, best describes where the fungus is located. Tinea Capitis, for instance refers to the ringworm of the scalp. ...
Ringworm is a contagious skin infection caused by a fungus. The ringworm fungus feeds on the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. It thrives best on skin that is moist, hot, and hidden from the light. In the United States, 20 percent of the population has been affected by ringworm. The medical term for ringworm is ‘Tinea.’ Tinea is a Latin name for a growing worm. Adding another word to it, best describes where the fungus is located. Tinea Capitis, for instance refers to the ringworm of the scalp. ...

What causes ringworm infection?

Ringworm is caused by a fungus called "dermatophytes," which means “Plant that live on the skin.” These fungi feed upon dead cells of skin and hair, causing circular patches of white, itchy skin with a well-defined red margin, giving the appearance of a ring. Contrary to popular belief, it is not caused by worms. Tinea infections can be acquired from people, animals, soil, wet places (such as showers and swimming pools) and household objects. ...

Is ringworm really a worm?

Ringworn is not a worm at all, but is a fungal infection. Signs include patchy areas of hair loss, and flaky or reddened skin. Kittens are most susceptible, but cats of any age may bcome infected. Contaminated soil is the most common source of the fungal organism.

Is ringworm difficult to get rid of? What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a fungus disease of the skin. In severe cases it can be very hard to get rid of it, but minor cases may respond to topical treatment only.

How often do people get ringworm? How many people have ringworm?

Less than 1% of the population in developed countries has ringworm at any given time, although some areas of Southeast Asia have local infection rates of up to 14%. In North America, ringworm outbreaks mostly occur among children aged 6 to 10 and is passed around at school. The strains of ringworm that occur in the Middle East are passed between family members of all ages.

How do you treat ringworm on children?

Natural remedies for healing ringworm are the same for children and adults, except you do want to be very sure not use pure tea tree oil with children. (Creams are always preferable. ) Additionally, it's a good idea to make sure children don't share combs or bed linens, and that you wash you hands every time you help your child wash or groom.

How often do people get ringworm?

Less than 1% of the population in developed countries has ringworm at any given time, although some areas of Southeast Asia have local infection rates of up to 14%. In North America, ringworm outbreaks mostly occur among children aged 6 to 10 and is passed around at school. The strains of ringworm that occur in the Middle East are passed between family members of all ages.

Can a cat give you ringworm?

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that is contagious to people. It can be contracted from animals, other people, or the soil. It usually is evident by a circular or ring-type sore that is itchy.

Can pets' ringworm spread to humans?

Ringworm can easily be spread from cats and dogs to people, and young children are at an increased risk of contracting ringworm. For this reason it is important to treat ringworm in pets quickly and effectively. It is also a good idea to limit direct contact between infected pets and other animals or people. Ringworm in humans causes patches of thick, scaly skin that may be itchy and cause hair-loss, as in pets.

What is the best product to use for Ringworm?

All areas affected spray with Aloe Veterinary Formula, then apply Aloe Vera Gelly. Use daily or as often as you can. Also add 120 mls of Aloe Vera Gel to the food each day or until the hair start to grow. If the problem is persistent then try using the Aloe Propolis Crème.

What does Ringworm look like?

In animals, ringworm frequently looks like a dry, gray, scaly patch but can also mimic any other skin lesion and have any appearance.
The fungus spreads into a circle, leaving the skin on the inside of the circle looking normal and the skin that forms the outer circle looks red and scaly.
The lesions of ringworm in cats may be very mild or even undetected. A ‘cigarette ash’ scaling in the depths of the coat may be the only visible indicator. In other cases there are discrete, circular, thickened plaques with hair loss (alopecia) that occurs due to the increased fragility of infected hairs. The main sites for these lesions are the skin of the head, chest, forelegs and along the ridge of the back to the base of the tail. These lesions are not usually itchy. ...

How is ringworm treated?

Ringworm can be cured with medication. Anti-fungal drugs like Fungrx and creams are used to clear up the infection. They are available without prescription. Ringworm usually respond to self-care treatment. Severe ringworm infection may require professional medical attention. Antibiotics may be needed to treat related bacterial infections. ringworm treatment may be required for 2 to 4 weeks. Infected pets should also be treated.

What is ringworm? Is there really a worm involved?

No, there is no worm! This is a fungal infection. See Tinea corporis or onychomycosis

What if my child has Ringworm?

A Ringworm is a fungus that can affect the skin, scalp, or nails causing a red eruption that spreads at the circumference as it heals in the center. It usually causes burning and itching and may cause hair to fall out when the scalp is involved. Ringworm is very contagious. Sharing clothes, towels, combs and brushes, or hats can spread it. Ringworm may also be caused by contact with an infected animal or contaminated soil. ...

How long can ringworm live on the furniture, on doorknobs, etc.?

Ringworm can survive as a spore indefinitely, but you are more likely to get it from people who have the infection without symptoms or pets who have the infection without symptoms. Dusting and cleaning will take care of household surfaces, but you need to make sure no people and no pets have infections for your whole household to stay infection-free.

Will Ringworm Go Away by Itself?

There have been several studies that showed that this fungal infection should eventually resolve on its own. Typically, this takes 4 months, a long time in a home environment for contamination to be occurring continuously. We recommend treatment for this infection rather than waiting for it to go away.
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