How to Diagnose Ringworm in Children

Despite the connotation of its name, ringworm is actually a fungal infection of the skin. In children it usually occurs on the scalp, abdomen or back, though it can also be found on feet and in the groin area. When found in those areas it is known as "athlete's foot" or "jock itch." The highly recognizable circular, scaly red patch is very itchy, extremely contagious and relatively simple to diagnose. Read on to learn more about how to diagnose ringworm in children.

Instructions

Diagnose Ringworm

• 1

  Look for the characteristic ring-shaped rash on your children's skin. It will begin as a small, scaly patch which, as the lesion begins to heal, will look like a bulls-eye with healthy skin circled by red, itchy and inflamed skin.

• 2

  Examine any itchy patches on your child's scalp, looking specifically for a small sore that is pimple-like in appearance. As the infection progresses, the hair in the affected area will often fall out.

• 3

  Expose the areas in question to ultraviolet light. Often a ringworm infection will glow under the ultraviolet rays.

• 4

  Bring your children to the doctor to have the area looked at and cultured. There are many skin conditions, such as types of eczema and pityriasis rosea that can often be mistaken for ringworm so it's important to diagnose your child's skin infection correctly.

• 5

  Check your animals if you suspect someone in the family has ringworm. The infection can be transmitted to and by dogs and cats. If your children are close to your pets, it's not unlikely that they too, will be affected.

Treat Ringworm

• 6

  Confirm with a doctor that the infection is, indeed, ringworm before beginning any type of treatment.

• 7

  Determine, with your doctor's help, whether a scalp or nail infection needs to be treated with an oral anti-fungal medication.

• 8

  Apply an anti-fungal cream topically to infections found on skin other than the scalp.

• 9

  Shampoo your hair with a selenium sulfide containing shampoo.

• 10

  Eat foods high in beta-carotene, such as carrots, as beta-carotene helps to keep skin and nails healthy.

Prevent Ringworm

• 11

  Avoid contact with people or pets known to have the ringworm infection, and avoid sharing linens or sports equipment. Any clothes that may have been in contact should be washed with a fungicidal soap.

• 12

  Dry yourself as thoroughly as possible after bathing, letting your skin dry completely before putting on loose-fitting clothing. If you are in a warm, moist environment, such as a locker room, consider drying your skin with a hair dryer after toweling off.

• 13

  Put on socks before any other clothes if you have athlete's foot, to avoid spreading the fungus to other areas of your body.