Handouts
When your child gets "Ring worm"
2/3/09 -- RINGWORM
WHAT IS RINGWORM: Ringworm is a fungal infection and can infect the head, body, groin, and feet. It can be spread from human to human and from animals to humans.
The fungus can live on the back of theater seats, barber clippers, hairbrushes, combs, hats, clothes, shower stalls, towels and washcloths used by infected people.
APPEARANCE: The sore are “ring-like’” flat, the center is sometimes clear and the “ring” is usually reddish with small pimple-like bumps.
TREATMENT: Includes bathing with soap and water, removal of scabs and crusts, and applying an effective fungicide cream or ointment such as miconazole (Micatin), clotrimazole (Lotrimin-AF), tolnaftate (Tinactin) or prescriptions for your doctor. Blue-Star Ointment is not a fungicide- it only stops the itching, doesn’t kill the germ. Head, neck, face and scalp ringworm are very difficult to treat and require a visit to the doctor for prescription medication.
BACK TO SCHOOL: After treatment started, must be covered by clothing and/or band-aid for first 48 hours.
A note is needed from the doctor for treatment of head, scalp, face, and neck ringworm before returning to school.
