Ringworm is a common infection among adults and children, but can cause great stress at times. Recognising these ringworm symptoms on your body can enable you to take the appropriate action for treatment. If you develop ringworm, you will want to find out what has caused it, whether it is serious and how you should treat it. Although the symptoms of ringworm don't usually cause you to feel feverish or unwell, it can prove extremely difficult to eradicate. The good news is there are now a great many treatments available to help control and cure the symptoms. This article discusses the different symptoms of ringworm and the appropriate action to take.
Ringworm can prove very distressing, for both adults and children, ignoring the symptoms in the early stages can only cause problems later on.
Scalp ringworm is more common in children than adults. The infected area is itchy with crusted scales, and the hair usually breaks off at the root. In more sever cases the area may become inflamed with flaky skin. Under ultraviolet light the affected scalp fluoresces blue-green, which is a useful confirmatory test. In mild cases, you should bathe the infected area daily, using a non-soap product such as emulsifying cream. This will loosen the scales and moisturize the infected skin. Pat the skin dry after bathing, and apply a topical antifungal lotion. This should be repeated four to seven times a day, and treatment should be continued for at least four weeks after the infected area has cleared. If the symptoms haven't improved within two weeks, you should see a doctor, where he may prescribe an oral antifungal medication in tablet form.
Body ringworm is very noticeable, and usually appears on the trunk. It can be easily recognized by circular patches on the skin, more that one patch may appear. These ring like patches usually become very itchy, with a red scaly edge. As the ringworm spreads, the centre of the patch usually clears to look like normal skin. There are many topical skin medications available, usually combined with antiseptic and a mild steroid to reduce the itching. If you don't notice any improvement after one week or the ringworm spreads to other parts of the body, you may need medication in tablet form from your doctor.
With nail infections, the nails thicken and become brittle, the ends usually break in a ragged margin and the nail may detach itself slightly from the nail bed. The toenails are more often affected than the fingers. The diagnosis is confirmed by examining nail clippings. Nails are the most difficult of all symptoms to treat, because they are slow growing. If only a few nails are affected, treatment is with an anti-fungal lacquer containing, for example, tioconazole or amorolfine. For resistant cases an oral anti-fungal such as terbinafine, should be prescribed by your doctor.. Recurrence is common and the nails may remain thickened, yellow and unsightly.
The most common of all ringworm infections is athlete's foot. The symptoms to look out for are cracking and itching between the toes, especially the fourth and fifth toes. Peeling or scaling of the skin. A scaly, red rash can occur, which may spread to the soles of the feet, and in turn could result in cracking and bleeding. Sometimes bacterial infection can set in, resulting in pus-filled sores or ulcers. Many anti-fungal creams with a mild antiseptic and a mild steroid are effective for treating the symptoms of the infection in its early stages. In really resistant cases, an oral anti-fungal such as fluconazole may need to be obtained from your doctor.
Symptoms of groin ringworm or better known as jock itch, produces a reddened, itchy area spreading from the genitals outwards over the inside of the thigh. It is best to keep the area well ventilated, because the infection thrives best in warm and moist conditions. An anti-fungal containing a mild antiseptic should clear the infection, it's important to continue treatment for at least a week after the ringworm has gone to ensure complete eradication of the fungus. If no improvement is noticed after two weeks, or the ringworm persists you should see your doctor.
The above article is about the common ringworm symptoms to look out for and a guide on the treatments available. Some of these treatments may produce a permanent cure; others may simply improve your symptoms or keep the ringworm under control. If you are unsure of your symptoms or don't understand how a treatment works, or are worried about any possible side effects, always talk to your doctor.
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