How Parents Can Identify and Treat Ringworm Infections in Children Under 10

Many children under 10 play in grassy and dirt areas at school and in playgrounds, as such they are liable to ringworm infections. Ringworm is not a worm but a fungal infection that due to its circular nature (it is seen as a round circle on the skin) resembles a coiled worm. Ringworm is also commonly known as tinea and can be found in many different areas of the child's body; the head, neck, feet and hands are the areas prone to ringworm infections.

Ringworm can occur in anyone, regardless of their age but children under 10 years old are more prone to this fungal infection due to their play and social habits. It is generally seen as a round patch on the skin of the child which may be red and silvery, a key indicator of ringworm infection is persistent scratching of the area, since this infection is quite itchy. If your child had a ringworm infection in the head, they may experience temporary balding at the infection site, as well as severe itching.

Most tinea or ringworm cases are caused from fungal spores that are found in grass, soil and on other animals. The spores enter though a cut or break in the skin and multiply. The ringworm tends to thrive in places that are warm and damp, both in the environment and in the human body. Warts that are not raised look similar to ringworm cases so identifying and classifying warts in children is essential.

Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection and is easily passed from one child to another, children rarely identify the patch on another child as a highly contagious fungal infection, and play anyways, much to the chagrin of their parents. Ringworm infections can rapidly spread through a family or school through the sharing of clothes, hairbrushes and combs, touch and unwashed surfaces.

If you see the round circular patch of skin on your child and suspect that they may have ringworm, you should take action immediately. If you would like to be absolutely certain, you can carry them to a doctor who will examine a patch of the skin to ensure that it is indeed a ringworm infection and prescribe medication. Most anti-fungal medication such as shampoos (such as head and shoulders and selson blue) can be used on the scalp as well as the skin to help control and remove most ringworm infections. If this is not effective then an over the counter or prescription anti-fungal cream should clear it up very quickly. If a particular medication is not functioning correctly, you could try switching to another medication with a different active ingredient that may be more effective.

If you see your child with the distinctive circular patch indicative of a ringworm infection, there is no need to panic. Simply treat the infection with an anti-dandruff shampoo or antifungal cream while making sure the area is cleaned at least twice per day. You should also instruct your child not to scratch the infection since this would spread the infection to other parts of his body, making it much harder to treat. If these treatment options produce no visible results after 3 weeks, then you should seek medical attention to ensure that the child removes the infection quickly and does not pass it on to their friends and family.

References
1. http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/commoninfections/a/ringworm.htm
2. http://www.dhpe.org/infect/ringworm.html
3. http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/explore/ringworm.html
4. http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-diagnose-and-treat-ringworm-or-tinea-in-children-203468/