Tinea Corporis

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Tinea (TIN-e-uh) corporis is also called "ringworm of the body". Ringworm is a skin infection (in-FEK-shun) that may appear anywhere on the body except the scalp (head), feet, or hands. This infection happens most often in school children and athletes, but anyone can get it. Ringworm can be treated by taking a special medicine and keeping your skin clean and dry. With medicine, your ringworm infection may be gone in 1 to 2 weeks.

What causes ringworm? A germ called fungus causes ringworm. Ringworm can be spread 4 ways:

• Skin-to-skin contact with a person who has ringworm. Ringworm can spread quickly in school and daycare centers and among athletes, especially wrestlers.
  
  
• Skin-to-fur contact with an infected pet. Ringworm can be spread by touching the skin or hair of an infected pet, such as a cat or dog. Children often catch ringworm from pets.
  
  
• Handling or using items that have been used by a person with ringworm. Ringworm may be spread by sharing towels, clothes, and bed linens. In schools and daycare, it may be spread by touching items like sleep mats or stuffed animals. Athletes are especially at high risk. This is because ringworm fungus grows and spreads most easily in places that are warm and moist (wet). Ringworm may be spread by touching pool or gym surfaces, wrestling mats, and shower stalls.
  
  
• Ringworm can also be caught from the soil, but this is rare.

What are the signs and symptoms of ringworm? Ringworm may begin as 1 or more flat, red patches. As the infection grows, it spreads out in a circle or ring, leaving normal-looking skin in the middle. At the edge of the ring, the skin is red and raised (lifted up). It may be either dry and scaly, or moist and crusty. The infected skin may itch. Although the infection looks like you have a worm under your skin, there is no worm.

How is ringworm diagnosed? Often, a caregiver knows that you have ringworm just by looking at your skin. Your caregiver may also scrape off a small amount of your skin with a tiny blade. A special test done with the skin scraping can help your caregiver know if you have ringworm.

How is ringworm treated?

• Take ringworm medicine. Put fungus-killing medicine on your infected skin to kill the ringworm. If the infection spreads or does not go away, tell your caregiver. You may need to take medicine by mouth to get rid of the ringworm.
  
  
• Wash and dry your infected skin before putting medicine on it. Use mild soap and water. Dry the area well before putting on the fungus-killing cream or ointment.
  
  
• Do not scratch your ringworm sores. This may cause your sores to become infected or spread ringworm to other areas of your body. You may need antibiotics (an-ti-bi-AH-tiks) if you get another type of skin infection from scratching.
  
  
• Stay away from people or pets that are infected with ringworm. If your pet is infected, a veterinarian (pet doctor) should give him medicine. Without treatment, your pet can spread ringworm to you and others again.

How can I keep from getting or spreading ringworm?

• Wash all items that have come into contact with infected skin. Wash all towels, clothes, and bedding in the washer using the hot cycle and your regular laundry soap. Clean shower stalls, mats, and floors with a germ-killing or fungus-killing cleaner.
  
  
• Keep your skin, hair, and nails clean and dry. Shower or bathe every day. Wash your hands often.
  
  
• Shower after every sports practice. This is especially important for athletes such as wrestlers, who have close skin-to-skin contact with others. Use a clean towel to dry off. Do not share towels, clothes, brushes, or combs with others. Wash your clothes after every practice.
  
  
• While you have ringworm, avoid places where you may have close skin-to-skin contact with others. Do this until your ringworm is gone. This includes some types of sports practices. Other places to avoid include pools, shower stalls, and gym floors or mats.
  
  
• Tell the coach or teacher about your ringworm. If you think you were infected with ringworm from a wrestling mat or sports practice, tell your coach. If a younger child is infected, tell the school or daycare center. Teachers and coaches will need to tell parents about the ringworm infection. They will need to disinfect (clean) equipment, mats, and toys. This may help decrease the chance of others becoming infected with ringworm. Telling others is one of the best ways to help stop spreading ringworm.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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