Despite its name, ringworm comes from a fungus, not a parasitic worm. Ringworm is a common infection in children. They can catch it from other children or pets, especially cats and dogs. It’s itchy, which can cause your child to scratch it, getting the fungus on his fingers and spreading the disease to other areas of his body or other children. Fortunately, it’s not a serious disease. You can easily treat it with over-the-counter products.
Step 1
Verify that your child has ringworm. Ringworm causes a ring-shaped infection that’s about the size of a half-dollar. If you’ve seen the telltale ring before, you should easily be able to detect it. If not, you can compare the rash that your child has with pictures on the Internet or take your child to see her doctor for verification.
Step 2
Apply antifungal cream to the affected area. Purchase a cream designed for ringworm from your pharmacy. Completely cover the area with this cream.
Step 3
Require frequent hand washing. Children can easily transmit ringworm when it gets on their hands. Everyone in the family should frequently wash hands to avoid transferring it.
Step 4
Reapply the cream twice a day for several days. It can take a few days before you notice any change in the area.
Step 5
Contact your doctor if you don’t notice improvements after two weeks.
Photo Credit
- washing hands image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com
