Contracting Ringworm
Now, the basic question is how is ringworm transmitted to others? Ringworm is highly contagious and can be infectious to anyone who has made direct contact to the person or animal carrying the skin disease. It can also be transmitted through using the personal items of the infected person. Therefore, it is better not to share your personal belongings like towels, soap and brushes with other people. This can help in avoiding this type of disease.
What are the preventive measures against ringworm?
Fungi usually live in moist and warm areas such as locker rooms, cabinets, and you will be surprised to know that they are also present in swimming pools. Here are some tips in preventing ringworm:
• Do not share your personal items like clothes, towels, brushes, comb, hats, etc., especially if the person’s hygiene is too doubtful.
• Avoid walking with no slippers or shoes in places where the fungi may thrive.
• Wash clothes using warm water and fungicidal soap if borrowed or lent from others. For this reason, you are able to kill the bacterium that lies within the cloth.
• If suspected to have made contact with the fungi, wash your hands or body part regularly. Use warm water and any antibacterial or antifungal soap to do this.
• Do not touch pets that are suspected to have the disease.
If ringworm is unavoidable, how can one treat it?
Antifungal creams are usually prescribed to those infected with a monitoring period of two weeks. Once the patch inside the reddish circle disappears, the ringworm is no longer contagious. However, until such time that the itch and patch is still there, ringworm is highly contagious. Therefore, family members and friends should be wary when making direct contact with the disease carrier. If constantly touched, scars or dark patches may replace the ringworm even if it has already been cured. Ringworms on the scalp need oral medications to be treated.
