A developing baby can face numerous challenges along their development cycle; they will have to overcome numerous fevers, allergies and infections. Some of these infections can be extremely contagious, one of which is ringworm. Treating these illnesses is one of the most important aspects of helping your child grow in a healthy and happy manner. Understanding these infections can help you learn more about how to identify them, treat them and prevent them.
Ringworm is a form of infection that can be extremely contagious, surprisingly they have nothing to do with worms. The infection is called ringworm because of the shape of the contusion or bruise that manifests when your baby has this fungal infection. It is common to find ringworm infection in babies, this condition is not dangerous or extremely painful but can be extremely irritating and itchy. It is also known as tinea corporis and is most evident in children. This condition can manifest on any part of your child’s body from the scalp to the toes.
Ringworm is a very common infection that manifests in school children; this disease is extremely rare in toddlers or infants. The most common age range for children to manifest ringworm is between 2 and 10 years.
Ringworm in children and babies can be caused by a variety of factors that include:
If your child has any kind of interaction with pets such as cats and dogs that have the infection it can spread to your child.
These infectious fungal bacteria can linger on surfaces if your baby has contact with the infection on a surface they are considered at risk for ringworm.
Ringworm is contagious, your baby or child can get ringworm if they have contact with others that have the disease as well.
Note: Ringworm spreads through touch, if your child has ringworm, please keep them quarantined during their treatment period, so other children do not get sick as well.
One of the most important parts of fighting against any infection is understanding and identifying the infection. To do this, we must first learn about the symptoms of that infection. To understand ringworm, it is crucial that we know what the symptoms are and how they manifest.
Ringworm is known to manifest through an extremely distinct wound or patch on the skin; this allows doctors to make the diagnosis through a physical examination and by taking a medical history. If there are still doubts about the diagnosis, the doctor can take shavings of skin from the affected area and examine it under a microscope.
If unattended ringworm can lead to following complications.
Depending on the severity of the infection, doctors can recommend the following treatment for ringworm in children:
One of the most common ways to treat this condition is by applying ringworm cream for babies, this type of cream is specifically made with the skin requirements of children in mind.
A simple way to treat ringworm would be using children’s antifungal shampoo while bathing them to ensure ringworms on the scalp are treated effectively.
Similar to the shampoos, using antifungal soaps on your child while giving them a bath can help combat this fungal infection.
Using anti-fungal ointments can help ease the irritation for your child while combating the infection itself.
If the ringworm is severe and in multiple parts of your body and is also accompanied by another infection, your child may need to go on a course of antibiotics.
Remember that ringworm medicine for babies is prescribed on a case-specific basis, do not share the medication with others or use them on other children even if they have the same condition. Before applying any of these treatments, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about the procedures for applying the medication and what has to be kept in mind and what to look out for.
Using home remedies for ringworm can be considered an alternative to prescription medication. It is highly recommended, however, that you consult your doctors about home remedies and natural medication for ringworm in babies natural treatment methods. Here are some home remedies that may help combat ringworm:
Tea tree is known to have numerous dermatological benefits, it has properties that are assumed to combat ringworm. Be careful how you use this or how much, talk to a dermatologist before applying tea tree essential oil.
Apple cider vinegar is loaded with essential probiotics and acids that are hugely beneficial to the human body, applying this as a salve by dousing it on cotton and gently cleaning the patches with it is assumed to combat ringworm and other fungal infections.
This is considered one of the most potent natural antifungals around, using two drops of this mixed with some water to clean the patches of ringworm is thought to help combat the infection.
There are some steps that you can take to ensure that your infant and child does not get a ringworm infection.
Though the ringworm infection is highly contagious, you can exercise certain precautions to ensure that your child remains comfortable. Making sure that the infection does not spread to other members of the family or to other children is important. Talk to your child’s doctor about any concern you may have regarding the infection.