Read about how to stop ringworm spreading or coming back. Fungal nail infections can be treated with antifungal nail paint, but it also often requires antifungal tablets. These tend to work better than nail paints, although they can cause side effects, such as headache, nausea and diarrhoea.
Read more about treating fungal nail infections. The advice outlined below will help to stop fungal infections from spreading. The fungi that cause tinea infections can survive on items such as furniture, hairbrushes, clothing and towels, and can be spread through contact with these items.
Therefore, if someone in your household has a fungal infection, you should:. If you suspect that your pet is the source of the infection, take them to your vet for treatment. Patches of missing fur is a sign that an animal has ringworm. Always wash your hands after touching a pet with the infection.
If someone in your family has a fungal infection, there is no need for them to stay off work or school. However, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Good personal hygiene should also be followed to stop it spreading to other children. Find out how to treat fungal infections. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Ringworm and other fungal infections.
Ringworm and other fungal infections See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About ringworm and other fungal infections 2. Symptoms of ringworm and other fungal infections 3. Causes of ringworm and other fungal infections 4.
Diagnosing ringworm and other fungal infections 5. Treating ringworm and other fungal infections 6. Preventing ringworm and other fungal infections.
About ringworm and other fungal infections Ringworm is a common fungal infection that can cause a red or silvery ring-like rash on the skin. Tinea fungal infections There are different types of tinea fungal infection, based on the affected area of the body: ringworm tinea corporis — affecting the body fungal nail infection onychomycosis — affecting the nails athlete's foot tinea pedis — affecting the feet jock itch tinea cruris — affecting the groin tinea capitis — affecting the scalp Ringworm usually looks like a round, red or silvery patch of skin that may be scaly, inflamed and itchy, but other fungal infections may present themselves slightly differently.
Who is affected? Treatment Most ringworm infections are mild and can be treated using a pharmacy antifungal cream. Stopping it spreading It's important to prevent the infection spreading. Symptoms of ringworm and other fungal infections The symptoms of a tinea fungal infection depend on where the infection is.
Ringworm on the skin The symptoms of ringworm include: a ring-like red or silvery rash on your skin — your skin will look red and irritated around the ring, but healthy inside scaly, itchy and inflamed skin In more severe cases: the rings may multiply, grow in size and merge together the rings may feel slightly raised and the skin underneath may be itchy blisters and pus-filled sores may form around the rings The ring spreads outwards as it progresses.
Face and neck ringworm Ringworm on the face and neck may not appear ring-shaped, but may be itchy and swollen, and it can become dry and crusted. Hand ringworm Ringworm on the hand often causes the skin to become thicker on the palm and in between the fingers. Fungal scalp infection tinea capitis The symptoms of a fungal scalp infection include: small patches of scaly skin on the scalp, which may be sore patchy hair loss an itchy scalp In more severe cases: small, pus-filled sores on the scalp crusting on the scalp bald patches if your hair is affected In very severe cases, a large inflamed sore called a kerion may form on your scalp.
In more severe cases, you may have: cracked skin in the affected area blisters , which may ooze or crust swelling of the skin a burning or stinging sensation in your skin scaling patterns around your sole, between your toes and on the side of your foot Jock itch tinea cruris The symptoms of jock itch include: red-brown sores, which may have blisters or pus-filled sores around the edge itchiness and redness around your groin area, such as your inner thighs and bottom the genitals are not usually affected scaly, flaky skin on your inner thighs Exercising, walking and wearing tight clothing or underwear can make the symptoms of a groin infection worse.
Fungal nail infection onychomycosis The symptoms of a fungal nail infection include: a whitish thickening of the nail discolouration the nail can turn white, black, yellow or green the nail can become brittle and start to fall off the skin around the nail may be sore and irritated Read more about fungal nail infection. Causes of ringworm and other fungal infections Tinea fungal infections are caused by a particular type of fungi, called dermatophytes, which live off keratin.
How it spreads The fungi are tiny spores tough enough to survive for months on your skin, in soil or on household objects, such as combs or towels. The spores can be spread in four different ways: human-to-human contact human-to-animal contact — for example, by stroking an infected dog or cat human-to-object contact — both animals and humans can leave traces of fungi spores on objects and surfaces, such as towels, clothing, bed linen, combs or brushes human-to-soil contact — less commonly, it can develop after lengthy exposure to infected soil As an adult, you can become a carrier of a scalp infection without developing any symptoms.
Risk groups You are more likely to develop a fungal infection if you: are very young or very old are African-Caribbean in the case of scalp infections have type 1 diabetes are very overweight obese have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as HIV or AIDS are receiving medical treatment that weakens your immune system, such as chemotherapy or steroid tablets have had fungal infections in the past have hardened arteries atherosclerosis have poor circulation specifically, a condition called venous insufficiency, where the veins in your legs have trouble moving blood back to your heart.
Diagnosing ringworm and other fungal infections Ringworm and other tinea fungal infections are usually easy to diagnose from their appearance and location. According to one study , ointments or creams could take about 4 weeks to clear a ringworm infection.
However, the exact duration of the infection depends on the location and severity of the lesion. A lesion that forms on an area of the body with little to no hair may resolve in 2—4 weeks with treatment.
If the infection is severe or in an area with a lot of hair, it can take longer to heal. Ringworm that occurs on the scalp requires prescription medicine, such as oral antifungals. The doctor may also prescribe a medicated shampoo. Without treatment, ringworm can disappear within a few months.
However, the person is contagious to themselves and others during this time. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal skin infection. It can occur anywhere on the body but is particularly common in the groin area and on the feet. A person can use medicated ointments and creams to treat ringworm topically. For more severe infections, a person may need to take oral antifungal medications.
Ringworm remains contagious during the first 48 hours of treatment in people and for about 3 weeks from the start of aggressive treatment in pets. In both cases, untreated ringworm remains contagious for much longer. The fungal spores themselves can live for up to 20 months. During this time, people should take the necessary precautions to prevent reinfection.
Despite the name, ringworm refers to several types of contagious fungal infection. It most often results in an itchy rash. We describe symptoms as…. How Long Is Ringworm Contagious? Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. How it spreads Incubation period How long is it contagious? Healing time with treatment and without Treatments for faster healing Prevention Overview Ringworm tinea corporis is an infection of the skin caused by tiny fungus spores that reproduce in the dead outer layers of your skin.
Several different species of fungus can cause tinea. How ringworm spreads. What is the incubation period? How long can you pass it to someone else? Common treatments to speed up healing. Prevention tips. Read this next. Home Remedies for Ringworm. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Ringworm of the Scalp Tinea Capitis. Causes and How to Treat It.
Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Who gets ringworm? Cutaneous infections in wrestlers external icon. Sports Health ;
0コメント