Ringworm: Contagious Infection for People and Animals

What a horrifying thought it is to think you've contracted ringworm. Just the name can send a cold chill up your spine. A wriggly worm living and growing just beneath your skin. But, in all actuality, ringworm isn't near as terrifying as it sounds. First of all, it's not even a worm. It is, however, a fungal infection that causes a rather distinctive bull's-eye type lesion or rash. The lesion is mostly red with a lighter color in the center, giving it that bull's-eye appearance. The good thing is that this rash is pretty easy to identify.

Unfortunately, ringworm isn't restricted to one particular area of the body. It can be found on the feet, legs, arms or even the scalp. Another name that some may be familiar with is Tinea, which is Latin for worm. Another unfortunate thing is that ringworm is so contagious that a person can get it from another person or even a pet. There has to be skin-to-skin contact or contact with a surface that contains the ringworm, so it's not an airborne contagion. But, just handling an infected animal or having direct contact with an animal's bedding can be enough. This goes for human bedding or clothing as well. Because symptoms such as the lesions don't show up for almost a week to 10 days, infection can be passed from one person, or animal, to another before anyone even knows they are infected.

The actual fungus, a dermatophyte, can only live on the dead skin layer, a good thing because it can't survive deeper in the body. This makes treatment easier. The symptoms of ringworm are as mentioned above, a round, red rash with a lighter area in the center, itchiness around the rash, sometimes scaly or cracked skin (as in athlete's foot-also a type of ringworm). Athlete's foot, Tinea pedis, appears mostly between the toes and causes an itchy, scaly rash. This is a very common infection passed by contact of the fungus in showers or anywhere bare feet contact the fungus.

Luckily, ringworm can be treated by over-the-counter anti-fungal creams and lotions. Lotramin, Lamasil and others can be used and are inexpensive. Untreated, however, ringworm could possibly cause a larger infection requiring more invasive treatment. To prevent further spread of ringworm, all infected people or animals, their clothing and/or bedding, should be treated. Pet should be taken to a vet just to make sure they don't have some other problem as well and then an antifungal cream or tablet can be administered. For at least a week, pet bedding should be handled carefully and washed. Infected people should be treated right away and their clothing, and anything they come in contact with, such as towels, should be carefully handled and washed.

Since ringworm is a very common and very easily transmitted fungus, nobody should panic if they become infected. These days it's little more than a nuisance and inconvenience, and somewhat unsightly if it appears on an area that is exposed, such as the arms or neck. But, it will usually clear up in a couple of weeks once the antifungal cream is put on.