Ringworm in children

[cruisnfamily]

LOL I JUST got back from the grocery store where I bought Lamisil Spray for my boys, who are both complaining of itchy toes - and ringworm has run around the wrestling room this season already. So whether it's ringworm or athlete's foot I'm ready to spray!

ringworm, athletes foot, and jock itch are all the same thing.

I wouldn't bother calling an MD about ring worm when it is very easily treated by OTC medicines

I called my Dr and they absolutely DID NOT want to see DD. Had me describe it and told us what to do and said there was no reason to come in.

We may have to go in after all though because it's been weeks and the ringworm is still there. It's faded but it's not gone. Anybody know which remedies are most effective? A google search seems to favor Lamisil. We've been using lotrimin.

 

[kristilew]

I 2nd the dr.,but I heard BLUE STAR onitment works. I also have a question,How come people go to the dis board with questions that should be answered by a MD? Just wondering.

Every time I take DD to the Dr. for one thing, she catches something worse in the waiting room. If it's not an emergency, I always ask around first. Including on the dis - much wider audience

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 17yodd has a spot of it on her face. Probably got it from the dogs.

I got Tinactin. Will that work?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I use any brand, usually the cheapest, Walmart brand. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for it to completely clear up.

I used to get them almost every summer when I was a child because I love to run around outdoors barefoot.

Suzanne

 

[DebbieB]

ringworm, athletes foot, and jock itch are all the same thing.

I called my Dr and they absolutely DID NOT want to see DD. Had me describe it and told us what to do and said there was no reason to come in.

We may have to go in after all though because it's been weeks and the ringworm is still there. It's faded but it's not gone. Anybody know which remedies are most effective? A google search seems to favor Lamisil. We've been using lotrimin.

She may need the Lamisil pills (only available by prescription). As I posted on page 1, mine would not go away and just kept getting worse. That was the only thing that cured it after various creams. The dermatologist said it had got deep into the pores where the cream could not reach it.

 

[Planogirl]

We had to take DS to a doctor to get rid of his - wrestling coach's orders. It was mainly because they needed to know when he'd be clear to wrestle again. Unfortunately, the wrestlers tend to give it to each other over and over again.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I had the pleasant experience of catching ringworm from one of my students last year. I was completely grossed out and it was the only time I have ever had it.I put Lotrimin cream on it, covered with a large band-aid and changed it at night and in the morning adding more cream each time. It was gone in about 5 days. Just make sure they don't touch it!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

You do know this has nothing to do with hygeine and you don't get it from being dirty. ANYONE can get it, from anywhere.

Suzanne

 

[bgirldeb]

DS got it on his scalp after swimming in the YMCA pool a few years ago with his daycare. I'm thinking he shared a towel with a friend. On the scalp, it has to be treated with oral antifungals. Topical antifungals don't work for the scalp.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

DS got it on his scalp after swimming in the YMCA pool a few years ago with his daycare. I'm thinking he shared a towel with a friend. On the scalp, it has to be treated with oral antifungals. Topical antifungals don't work for the scalp.

Actually they do, my husband recently had it there, don't know how he got it (I think it was right after we got back from Disney), but the creme worked wonders.

Suzanne

 

[CookieDiva]

You do know this has nothing to do with hygeine and you don't get it from being dirty. ANYONE can get it, from anywhere.

Suzanne

Agreed, Suzanne. Actually, this is not far removed from a yeast infection. And I hope that no one would be grossed about about having a yeast infection. These fungi are a part of life. My DDs had yeast infections in their diaper area when they were babies. The doctor told me that the yeasts (fungi) are everywhere. Hard to avoid them. You treat the problem and move on with your life.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Agreed, Suzanne. Actually, this is not far removed from a yeast infection. And I hope that no one would be grossed about about having a yeast infection. These fungi are a part of life. My DDs had yeast infections in their diaper area when they were babies. The doctor told me that the yeasts (fungi) are everywhere. Hard to avoid them. You treat the problem and move on with your life.

I just felt that I needed to say that, since I did notice a couple of posts of people that are grossed out. You can get it walking down the street, playing in the yard, the gym, or anywhere people gather, that is life. I just recently had one on the back of my arm, probably from one of the cats and my cats don't go outside except to go to the vet.

Suzanne

 

[Cindyluwho]

We had to take DS to a doctor to get rid of his - wrestling coach's orders. It was mainly because they needed to know when he'd be clear to wrestle again. Unfortunately, the wrestlers tend to give it to each other over and over again.

I understand that wrestlers have a high risk of getting Herpes on different parts of the body as well.

As for ringworm, I'm sure it's the worst remedy in the world, but growing up on a farm if one of us kids or one of the animals got ringworm my mom used bleach on it. I suppose it kills the fungus I remember her putting bleach on the pad of a bandaid and then putting it over the ringworm circle. It was gone within a day or two. It also burned the heck out my skin, but it did work. OUCH!!

 

[CookieDiva]

As for ringworm, I'm sure it's the worst remedy in the world, but growing up on a farm if one of us kids or one of the animals got ringworm my mom used bleach on it.

Yowww-weee! I have heard that people use bleach for poison ivy too!

 

[Cindyluwho]

Yowww-weee! I have heard that people use bleach for poison ivy too!

I get that bleach kills fungus but this is one of the cases where the cure is almost as bad as what ails you!

 

[shelly3girls]

When DD got ringworm from gymnastics we used the Lotrimin AF. It took a while but it did go away. Do everything you can to keep the area from getting moist or warm. DDs hung around for a while b/c she got it in the beginning of the summer. Everytime she went out to play it flared up. I saw in a previous post someone said to put Neosporin on it. Definitely do not do that for ringworm. It will get worse, not better!

 

[Planogirl]

As for ringworm, I'm sure it's the worst remedy in the world, but growing up on a farm if one of us kids or one of the animals got ringworm my mom used bleach on it. I suppose it kills the fungus I remember her putting bleach on the pad of a bandaid and then putting it over the ringworm circle. It was gone within a day or two. It also burned the heck out my skin, but it did work. OUCH!!

Yow! I want to scream just thinking about this cure.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I think people get grossed out 'cause of the name: ringWORM! Sounds grosser than it is. It is not a worm. It is a fungus. No biggie. Treat it & move on...it's a nuisance like athlete's foot or a yeast infection or a cold sore. My DH gets it fairly frequently as he is a pediatric dentist and in addition to getting vomited on and bit on a weekly basis, he gets ringworm occasionally. I think he often just leaves it alone and it dries up and goes away.

 

[SunshineOR]

As someone else mentioned, it depends on where on the body it is. Ringworm on the body can easily be treated with an over the counter cream. On the scalp, you have a battle on your hands. My daughter got it last year (just from playing in the yard!) and we went to the doctor. We carefully used the pills correctly, plus creams applications three times a day for a couple months and it would not go away. What finally worked was rubbing bleach on it three times a day. I diluted it a little and just rubbed it in with a paper towel a couple times a day. It worked, but we had to do it often and keep it up for a long time. It still took about three more months for the hair to begin to grow back. It was a traumatic six months for her keeping her icky, bald spot covered! I have since heard horror stories from other people about battling ringworm on the scalp and our experience was not unusual.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Actually, this is not far removed from a yeast infection. And I hope that no one would be grossed about about having a yeast infection. These fungi are a part of life. My DDs had yeast infections in their diaper area when they were babies. The doctor told me that the yeasts (fungi) are everywhere. Hard to avoid them. You treat the problem and move on with your life.

DS has been prone to yeast infections since he was an infant. When he was still in diapers, it was not uncommon for him to have a yeast infection once every couple of months. The first time, we had NO clue as to what it was and thought it was diaper rash. Then it marched up his stomach and got worse and we flipped out. The pedi was like, "Oh yeah this is just a yeast infection. Here's how you treat it.". I didn't even know boys could GET yeast infections until then.

He's had ringworm once this school year and it was a BOOGER to treat..our pedi suggested we use Gentian Violet (an antifungal) on it which we did do. The only thing I hate about using Gentian Violet though is that it makes him turn purple.