My ds's school sent home a notice that one of the students had been infected with ring worm and, of course, it would have to be my ds's best friend. I know this from his mother, not the school. I'm kind of assuming that my ds has been exposed to this, probably several times, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of anyway to prevent it besides avoiding it in the first case. Will it help to wash in antibacterial soap? I don't usually use this for anything other than hands because we all have trouble with eczema. That brings me to my next question, do you think he is more likely to catch it because the eczema causes small breaks in the skin? One last question, can my ds carry it to another member of the family without developing a rash himself? He brought lice home and all 3 of us girls caught them but he and DH never did. I'm fairly sure he brought them home since we were treating within a week of the notice coming home. Any suggestions are appreciated. TIA

By Danenbellsmom on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 01:14 am:

Just keep a look out for it.I just found out my 1 year old has ringworm on her back. If you notice a circle like rash use a cream like Lotrimin. Its a fungal rash and can be passed by people and dogs. I looked up info all about it on WebMD. Its been going around this month I noticed. Hope some of my advice helps.
Krista

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 02:33 am:

I got ringworm earlier this year from a sports bra I bought, where the elastic touched. Maddie picked it up from me, and we both used Lotrimin to get rid of it. Maddie's got scaly, but didn't seem to bother her. Mine didn't bother me either, but with eczema it may irritate your ds if he gets it. Just keep an eye out as Krista said, and treat as early as possible if he does. I am not sure about passing it without showing signs of it. I'd never seen it before, thought it was just rub irritation from working out, until Nate told me it looked like ringworm. He used to get it from wrestling in school as a kid, you can spread it with towels, and the such, too, so be cautious about not reusing them. Don't worry, it's just one of those minor annoyances, not nearly as bad as lice. (BTW, your DH and DS probably didn't get lice because their hair is short. It makes it harder for them to attach.) (((Cori))) Isn't parenthood gross?? LOL

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 07:11 am:

Ringworm

What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection of the skin that has nothing to do with worms. It can be itchy, but it's not painful or dangerous. It's the same fungus that causes athlete's foot, jock itch, and toenail fungus. In young children it most often affects only the torso or scalp.

If your child has ringworm on his torso, he'll have a rash of one or several red rings, usually ranging from dime- to quarter-size, on his chest, stomach, thighs, or back. The rings are usually crusty or scaly on the outside and smooth in the center. As the fungus grows the rings get larger. When the fungus affects the scalp it usually appears as dandruff or bald spots. They can be dry and crusty, or moist and filled with pus. It's easy to confuse ringworm of the scalp with dandruff or cradle cap. Since toddlers are usually too young for dandruff and too old for cradle cap, chances are these symptoms are ringworm. If you aren't sure what your toddler has, consult your doctor.

How did my toddler get ringworm?
Chances are your child got ringworm from an infected person or pet. The fungus is most often spread through person-to-person contact or from cats and dogs to people. A person can also catch it from hairbrushes, combs, hats, or any article worn or used on the head.

How should I treat ringworm?
In most cases ringworm will clear up if you treat it with an over-the-counter antifungal cream, like the kind grown-ups use for athlete's foot. Look for a product with one or 2 percent clotrimezol. Some children are sensitive to these creams, so try using just a little bit of the cream first to see how your child's skin reacts. If a secondary rash develops, consult with your doctor for other alternatives. Otherwise, smooth a small amount of the cream over the infected area a couple of times a day for a week to 10 days. Remember to wash your hands well afterward. If the rash doesn't look considerably better after about a week, take your child to the doctor.

Ringworm of the scalp can be more difficult to treat and can take longer to clear up. If creams fail, your doctor will probably prescribe an oral antifungal medicine or a medicated shampoo.

Can I do anything to make sure my child doesn't get ringworm again?
It's hard to protect your toddler from ringworm, but there are a few things you can do to keep it from spreading further. Once your child is infected, alert friends and family so they can see whether they're affected and get treatment. Also check your pets for crusty bald patches of skin, indications of ringworm. If you find any, talk to your veterinarian. (Even if they don't show symptoms, you might bring your pets in for a checkup if your child keeps getting re-infected, since animals can carry the fungus without showing any signs of it.) Infected children shouldn't share pillows, hairbrushes, combs, hats, or towels with others. These items should be washed thoroughly or thrown away.

Should I keep my toddler home from daycare?
Normally with ringworm you don't need to keep your toddler home from daycare, since scalp-to-scalp or torso-to-torso contact is rare. But check with your daycare provider.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 09:27 am:

I remember having ringworm when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. In those days every child went in to the school nurse a couple of times a year and our scalps were checked for ringworm and lice - I think there were other parts of the examination also but that sticks in my mind. My mom had to treat my scalp with some stuff, and I wore a velvet Juliet cap for several weeks.

By Tink on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Really gross, Crystal! LOL I had no idea what this prissy little girly-girl was in for when that pregnancy test came back positive. Oh well, you roll with the punches right?
I was sent an info sheet by the school. I just wondered if there was anything I could do since I was expecting it. Doesn't sound like it, though. Bummer!

By Janet on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

My 14 yr old had a case of it a few weeks ago, but the dr prescribed an anti-fungal cream and it's pretty much gone. She about fainted when the dr told her what it was, and I was quick to say, "It's not a worm!" LOL