Need some advice...curious about...(medical issue)

[momrek06]

I just went out to dinner with all my girlfriends. It is a fabulous group of girls that I have been so friendly with for years and we get together once a month for dinner and eat, drink and talk!!

One of the girls was a little late for dinner...no biggie...until she calls another friend at the table to say she was in a car accident!! She said she is fine but will still be joining us in a while.

She gets to the restaurant and comes in sits down and just starts crying hysterical. Once she is calm we ask her about the car and she said that it was basically a fender bender and everyone will be fine in both cars. That this was no biggie. OKAY, then why the tears....because "everyone at my job is talking about me and I feel horrible"...we ask her to explain..."well yesterday I wore capri's to work and all the employees saw my RINGWORM"...another friend says "WHAT"...this friend then tells us she has ringworm!!! I am blown away by this word or this ailment. I say nothing....another friend says to her..."are you aware it is very contagious"..she said.."they told me I cannot come back to work until I have seen a MD"....this girl leaves for the restroom and everyone is hysterical at the table because we are not aware of this disease ringworm. Girlfriend comes back to the table (mind you we are all trying to eat) and proceeds to explain that she got it because "she walks BAREFOOT in her back yard where her cat and dog relieves themselves..hence getting ringworm"

OKAY DISer's what exactly is this....does anyone know....we were all a tad bit uncomfortable due to our complete ignorance of this ailment.

 

[becka]

First of all calm down it really is not that bad. Ringworm is just a fungal infection similiar to something like athlete's foot.

What is ringworm of the skin?
Ringworm is an infection caused by a fungus that grows on the skin. Fungal infections of the skin are more common in warm, humid climates. In the United States, 1 to 2 people in 10 have a fungal skin infection.


What causes ringworm?
Ringworm is caused by fungi (plural of fungus). It is not caused by a worm or other parasite. The fungi that cause ringworm live and multiply on the outer layer of the skin.

The type of fungus that most commonly causes ringworm of the skin spreads from one person to another. You can get it by sharing towels, clothing, or sports equipment or by having direct contact with an infected person’s rash.

Another type of fungus is spread by cats and dogs. It is less common but causes more severe infections.

The medical term for many fungal infections is “tinea,” followed by a word that describes where the infection occurs. For example, ringworm of the skin (except on the scalp, beard, groin, feet, or hands) is called tinea corporis. Tinea cruris, or "jock itch," affects the groin area. Ringworm of the hands is tinea manuum.

Basically just sitting beside her you are not going to be infected.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Ringworm is contagious by contact skin contact. Google search ringworm and you will find more information than you ever wanted to know.

 

[momrek06]

Thank you both. I will check it out online as you stated!!!

 

[golfgal]

I contracted ring worm from handling a stray kitten. It was on my arm. They dr gave me some cream to put on it, it took a couple weeks for it to go away. It was VERY itchy. I was in college at the time, living in an apartment with 3 other people, no one else caught it. I wouldn't worry about it at all but I would recommend your friend get some medication for it. I kept a bandaid over the spot so the medicine wouldn't rub off on my clothing.

 

[Blondy876]

I caught it from one of my students last year, ahhh the joys of being a preK teacher. I had a spot about the size of a half dollar on my face. It was sooo itchy and yucky looking. The doctor put me on pills and ointment because he said if it stayed too long I could end up with scarring. The pills were horrible. I only had to take them for 7 days but they made me incredibly sick. He told me to use the ointment until it was gone. That was 2 1/2 months ago and I'm still using the ointment. He said to use it till it's gone and it's a big tube. It sounds terrible, ringworm, but its not really a worm its a fungus. The name describes the shape. As long as you didn't rub yourself on her leg you should be fine.

 

[Kimmie5870]

I caught it from one of my students last year, ahhh the joys of being a preK teacher. I had a spot about the size of a half dollar on my face. It was sooo itchy and yucky looking. The doctor put me on pills and ointment because he said if it stayed too long I could end up with scarring. The pills were horrible. I only had to take them for 7 days but they made me incredibly sick. He told me to use the ointment until it was gone. That was 2 1/2 months ago and I'm still using the ointment. He said to use it till it's gone and it's a big tube. It sounds terrible, ringworm, but its not really a worm its a fungus. The name describes the shape. As long as you didn't rub yourself on her leg you should be fine.

I got ringworm 4 times in 6 weeks after becoming a cashier.Come to find out it came from handeling money then scratching.Anyway,a cat lover in town told me to use toothpaste to get rid of it.The toothpaste cleared it up in just a few days...and after that I used hand sanitizer anytime there was a lag in customers.