Posts Tagged ‘symptoms’

Get Rid Ringworm

Fungal infections like ringworm have been around for centuries and for just as long people having been searching for ways to get rid of ringworm and other ailments that plague us.  Some people are more susceptible to fungal infections than others. The tendency to get fungal skin infections or to have them return after treatment seems to run in families. These are some of the most commonly contracted minor medical conditions.  Treatments for this type of dermatophyte infection run the gamut from prescription pharmaceuticals to over the counter products like creams and powders, and even to a myriad of home remedies.  One such example of a home remedy used to get rid of ringworm is apple cider vinegar.

If you decide to try this some things you will need on hand are apple cider vinegar, band aids, clomitrazole, soap, water, and a wash cloth.   The first step is to clean the affected area with soap and water, and let it dry. Do not scratch, and make sure you are using a separate towel and do not re-use it before laundering to avoid a greater chance of the ringworm infection spreading.  Next, apply or dab the apple cider vinegar with a q-tip or cotton ball to the ringworm. Be prepared for a slight stinging sensation.  This normal and is a sign that it is killing the infection.

Apply the clomitrazole next with a different q-tip or cotton ball to the ringworm completely cover the affected area even going past the edges of the site.  Cover the ringworm completely with a band-aid or bandage if necessary.  It is recommended to follow these steps for seven to ten days.  When the ringworm is gone it will appear flat, but just to be on the safe side keep applying the clomitrazole for another week to be sure the fungus is gone

Things to remember when dealing with a ringworm infection are if you come in contact with the ringworm make sure you wash your hands to prevent spreading it. If the ringworm has not gone away after the seven to ten day period days you may choose to go to the doctor as soon as possible or try another remedy.  Be consistent with whatever home remedy you choose. There are many personal examples of persons who have treated ringworm.  Educate yourself, get as much information as you can and then choose the option to get rid of ringworm that suites you best.

Antifungal Creams Ringworm

In most cases, ringworm infections of the skin can be treated with antifungal creams or ointments. Antifungal cream can be found in several varieties. There are an assortment of active ingredients are available in these products. The active ingredients more commonly seen include miconazole, econazole, clotrimazole, and tioconazole. Another typical factor found in most antifungal creams is that it contains a second active ingredient to reduce itching. There are several products available without a prescription. A nonprescription antifungal cream with miconazole or clotrimazole is an option of the available choices. Some of the brand names include Micatin, Tinactin, Monistat, and Lotrimin. Terbinafine cream is also available without a prescription. Another highly effective cream is sold under the All Stop brand and is also available without a prescription.

When using an antifungal cream to treat ringworm first wash the infected area with soap and water, remove flaky skin, and dry thoroughly. For large areas of blistered sores, use compresses to soothe and dry out the blisters. Apply antifungal cream beyond the edge or border of the fungal infection.  The directions on the package should be followed. Continue using the medicine even if your symptoms go away. Treatment will probably need to be continued for at least 2 to 4 weeks.

Sharing antifungal cream is not suggested. If you share antifungal creams ringworm infections can be passed to someone else.  Do not touch the tube of medicine unless your hands are clean. Care should be used when applying antifungal cream on yourself or other people. This is recommended to avoid transferring the infection to other areas of the body and to other people. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying.  The best way is to squeeze out the amount of cream needed on a tissue, this way the medicine is not contaminated.  Something else to keep in mind if you use creams regularly is to check the expiration date to make sure the medication is still good.

To prevent ringworm from returning after treatment, apply talcum or other drying powder to the affected area on a daily basis.  After having tried your choice of topical antifungal creams ringworm symptoms should be alleviated. If the infection is widespread, prescription antifungal pills may be the next option.

When suffering from both athlete’s foot and ringworm affecting both of the groin and legs, both infections should be treated.  This will prevent re-infection from recurring in the legs or groin.   With athlete’s foot fungus, use caution when putting on underclothing to keep from spreading it to the groin area.  In most cases the infection can easily be eliminated with antifungal creams, ringworm is no exception.

How to Recognize them

Head lice infestations are a very common problem even in these days of enlightened cleanliness and attention to personal hygiene, proving that there is no link whatsoever between the presence of lice and the personal hygiene habits of an individual. Indeed, the head louse is not selective and will settle anywhere, on anyone. The problem is in knowing they are there, for while some symptoms may be giveaways to those who are experienced with the problem, they may not be immediately noticeable to people who have not experienced them before.

For instance, one of the more well known head lice symptoms is that of incessant itching where the lice have bitten the skin; however, this can take weeks, even months to materialize, by which time the lice are well established as a colony and harder to get rid of. The head lice life cycle is such that one female could lay eggs each day for thirty days, and even then it may be some time before the host notices the presence of lice, as each egg takes up to a week to hatch, and then the young louse a further week to reach maturity.

There is, thankfully, a wealth of head lice information available on the internet, much of it explaining the various symptoms that can also signal the presence of the head louse, and with various lice pictures attached that enable you to see accurate representations of what to look for in an infestation.

One thing that may be a giveaway is the presence of nits on hairs that have fallen out; these tiny but noticeable eggs are well illustrated at many of the information sites, and it is worth becoming familiar with them in order to identify them correctly. Other symptoms include a dirty pillow, thanks to the detritus of lice droppings, and one way to check for lice is to comb the hair over a white sheet of paper and examine what comes out as a result: if it crawls, the chances are it is a louse!

The best way to examine for nits and lice is to perform a regular examination; this is particularly valid if you are aware that the child has been in contact with a known case, and it is vital that you examine closely the area nearest the scalp, as this is where the lice live and lay their eggs. Itching behind the ears, and on the back of the neck, is a certain indication of a possible head lice infestation.

Ringworm (Tinea corporis) is the name used for superficial skin infections of the trunk, legs or arms of a dermatophyte fungus. Dermatophytes are a group of related fungi that infect and survive on the top layer of the epidermis or skin called the keratin.  Ringworm is a skin infection caused by this fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails or feet.

There are three groups of fungi that cause skin infection of this type and can be categorized according to their preferred host sources:

* geophile or fungi from soil sources
* zoophile or fungi from animals
* anthropophile or fungi from humans

The fungi transmitted primarily through contact with animals or zoophile is usually responsible for ringworm (tinea corporis).  It is usually transmitted through contact with animals such as dogs, cats, calves, hamsters, and guinea pigs.

Most mammals have at least one type of fungus, and in most instances the animal and fungus coexist without the animal ever manifesting any symptoms of the fungus. This does not mean that the fungus cannot be transmitted to humans.

Children are particularly vulnerable to ringworm (tinea corporis) and can pass it effortlessly to other children.  Adults are not immune and can also become infected.  Persons who fall in the high risk category are farmers and people who work with animals that have fur.

The term tinea corporis is the medical term for ringworm, which refers to round or oval red scaly patches on the skin.  They are often seen to be less red and scaly in the middle or even look healed at the center.  It is common for one ring to develop inside another preexisting ring.

Ringworm may be acute which means there is a sudden onset and it rapidly spreads.  Or it could be chronic which is a slow broadening of a mild, minimally inflamed, rash.  Most often it affects exposed areas but could also spread from other infected sites. Non-fungal conditions that resemble ringworm include impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea.

Acute ringworm shows up as itchy inflamed red patches that may be pustular.  Chronic ringworm is more likely to be found in body folds.  Acute ringworm has a tendency to be stubborn to treat and prone to recurrence if widespread.  Lessening of natural skin resistance to fungi or because of re-infection from the environment could possibly be the reason for this recurrence.

A fungal infection of the scalp by mold-like fungi is called tinea capitis. Tinea capitis is also called ringworm of the scalp.  This is a skin disorder that affects children almost exclusively.  Fungal organisms known as dermatophytes cause scalp ringworm by superficially infecting certain kinds of tissue found in hair, skin, and nails. It can be persistent and very contagious. Symptoms may consist of itching, scaly, and inflamed balding areas on the scalp. Oral antifungal medications are required to treat the infection.

A health care provider may suspect scalp ringworm by the tinea capitis symptoms on the scalp but tests should be done to confirm the tinea capitis diagnosis.  Tests may include skin lesion biopsy with microscopic examination or culture or a Wood’s lamp test to confirm a fungal scalp infection.

Most dermatophytes do not fluoresce. There are exceptions.  Two of those exceptions are zoophilic dermatophytes. Zoonotic means the disease can be passed from animals to humans.  Cats are more likely to be infected of all animals.  The skin changes in cats are very similar to those of affected people, but cats can carry the infection without exhibiting obvious signs.  It is sometimes hard to tell the source of the fungus.  Microsporum canis and Microsporum andoui are zoonotic minor causes fluoresce a blue-green color. A Wood’s light examination can also help to differentiate erythrasma caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum from tinea cruris.  The former fluoresces coral-red and the latter does not fluoresce.

The Wood’s light examination can be helpful in evaluating the scope of infection, identifying areas for sampling and determining treatment response when the tinea capitis diagnosis is positive. The examination can also be helpful for examining the contacts of an infected person.

Microscopic examination is fundamental to the office diagnosis of any tinea infection. A biopsy is scraped from an active area of the lesion, placed in a drop of potassium hydroxide solution and examined by microscope. The examination is highly sensitive and specific for dermatophyte identification but can be done quickly and easily,

If hyphae are identified in fungal infections and if pseudohyphae or yeast forms are seen in Candida or Pityrosporum infections, microscopy is positive. A positive examination is adequate to justify starting treatment.  Species identification does not usually influence treatment choices.

There are several different options that are often used to treat this condition.  Suggestions for prevention include things like keeping the area clean.   Using a medicated shampoo, with ingredients like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, may reduce the spread of infection.  It may be necessary for other family members and pets to be examined, diagnosed and treated.

Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) is a very common fungal infection among children throughout the world.  Fungal organisms known as dermatophytes cause scalp ringworm by superficially infecting certain kinds of tissue found in hair, skin, and nails. This forms the crusty, scaly patches related with scalp ringworm.

According to Wikipedia, tinea capitis symptoms to watch for are thickened, scaly, and sometimes boggy swellings, or expanded raised red rings (ringworm). Common symptoms are severe itching of the scalp, dandruff, and bald patches where the fungus has rooted itself in the skin. It often presents identically to dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis in African American children. The highest incidence is in African American boys of school age.

In the United States, an estimated 3-8% of the population is affected by scalp ringworm. Some people can be carriers of the organism and spread it to others in the household. In other countries, an estimated 9.6% of people are affected, and nearly 40% can be carriers.

Children from four to fourteen years are the most likely to develop tinea capitis symptoms, although it can occasionally appear in adults.  Scalp ringworm is seen most frequently in urban areas among people with low incomes living in overcrowded conditions.  This disease also tends to be more severe in children suffering from weakened immune systems, such as those with afflictions like diabetes, AIDS, or cancer.

Tinea capitis may be extremely persistent, and it may return after treatment. It has been found that in many cases it goes away on its own as a person reaches puberty.  Good general hygiene is a key factor to prevent and treat tinea infections. Shampoo the scalp regularly and avoid contact with infected pets or people. Do not exchange headgear, combs or brushes, and like items.

Anti-fungal medications, taken by mouth, are used to treat the infection. There are several different options that are often used to treat this condition.  Suggestions for prevention include things like keeping the area clean.   Using a medicated shampoo, with ingredients like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, may reduce the spread of infection.  It may be necessary for other family members and pets to be examined and treated.

A health care provider may suspect scalp ringworm by the tinea capitis symptoms on the scalp but tests should be done to confirm the diagnosis.  Tests may include skin lesion biopsy with microscopic examination or culture or a Wood’s lamp test to confirm a fungal scalp infection.