Ringworm! WWYD??

Updated on August 05, 2009
A.O. asks from Sanger, TX
22 answers

ok mamas, my daughter has reoccuring staph infections. Her ped has told us just to keep it covered, use the cream on it and if it gets worse bring her in or on wknds to take her to urgent care. Well almost 2wk ago she had a spot pop up and we have been treating it like staph, it kept getting worse but her ped said as long as it isn't hard underneath and hot she should be fine. So I didn't let it bother me, but 2-3 days ago it started taking a different shape. It started out as random tiny spot. Then formed in a line, that line curved and now it is an almost complete circle. I'm 90% sure it is ringworm, what should I do? Should I wait until Monday to take her to her peds or should I take her to urgent care today? TIA

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

Use Lotrimin AF (anti-fungal) it will go away in a few days.

http://www.lotrimin.com/ringworm-images.html

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Try some Tinactin or any other "jock itch" cream. If it works, it works, if it doesn't then no harm, no foul.

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi A.,
Ringworm probably wouldn't be considered an emergency or urgent. Some day cares or preschools insist a child stay home to prevent the spread to other children since it can be contagious if it's on an area that would come into contact with another child's skin. I treated my son's ringworm by painting clear fingernail polish on it every day for a few days. Apparently it needs air to stay alive and if that's cut off it dies out. I painted it with clear nail polish and covered it with a band aid just to be sure there was less of a chance of transmission to anyone else. It was mostly gone within 3 days but I kept doing it for 5-6 days, just to be sure. I was amazed at how quick and painless it was - not to mention cheap - since I had been desperate to find a cure without going to a doctor (we didn't have insurance at the time). Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

Concerning the staph, did your doctor tell you many times it is spread to the entire family. Also, have you had it cultured? If it is MRSA, it is VERY difficult to get rid of. My daughter has had it 8 or so times in the last year. It is VERY painful and comes up in boils on her bottom, legs, and once on her face. We saw a pediatric infectious disease Dr who gave her a very strong antibiotic as a preventative and told us how to take care of them. We soak them with warm epsom salt compresses and eventually they drain. Draining them seems to be key to eventually getting rid of the staph. We also all use bactroban in our noses periodically and on her bumps after soaking. I bleach her towels and clothes during outbreaks so as not to spread the bacteria. Also, keep her fingernails short so if she scratches, she won't spread staph. It is carried in your nose.

Regarding the ringworm, the lotrimin cream (or whatever anti-fungal he has recommended) should take care of the ringworm. I had them all over both of my arms once from picking up a stray cat. The doctor told me the virus is very common (even in dirt), and if your immune system is down, then you are more susceptible to them. It sounds like your daughter's immune system might be down as well, possibly from the staph.

I hope this helps and isn't overwhelming. I spent months trying to help my daughter and hope this will help you stop the breakouts. Good luck.

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

This is gonna sound gross but my eleven month old had a ring worm and i used some of his urine from his diaper and in three day it was gone. Its just an old home remedy but its really not nasty because urine is sterile! Just try it it really works!

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J.R.

answers from Wichita Falls on

this may sound crazy but it works, put jock itch cream on it. it kills the fungus. I have done it several times and its cheap. A pharmisist told me about it.

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K.T.

answers from Dallas on

All you need to do is treat it with an anti fungal cream. Whatever you do though, when treating it with an anti fungal cream is DO NOT PUT A BAND AID ON IT. The anti fungal cream will keep it moist under the band aid and it will not go away. My son had this when he was in kindergarten and he had to wear a band aid over it while he was at school. The doctor said that was the worst thing that we could do, but in order for him to be able to be at school, we had to cover it up. We would take the band aid off as soon as he got home, It took longer to go away, because we had to do that, but it did go away, Since we went to the doctor and it was on his face, she prescribed him an RX anti fungal cream, but over the counter works just as well. Good luck and I hope it goes away soon.

C.R.

answers from Dallas on

Hi A.,
Ringworm is a normal fungi that lives on our skin. It's when our immune system is weak (children and elderly is common) that their number increase to the point where you have a lesion on the skin. Most lesions are circular and have no hair growing in the center with some scaling in it but not all appear this way. I was a vet tech for several years so I saw alot of this ") My son had recurring areas on his face and chest that I treated with Lotrimin AF. In time his immune system matured and we have no more lesions come up. I would suggest treating the area with Lotrimin or you could use a colorless iodine applied with a cotton ball daily too. Ringworm can be a bugger to treat, taking a while t see results. I wouldn't be too concerned with it spreading to another, most of the time it doesn't. I certainly wouldn't think it would call for a trip to the urgent care clinic. If it spreads or gets angry looking after trying to treat it yourself a visit to the doctor office would be wise.
Best Regards,
C.

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B.L.

answers from Dallas on

ringworm is highly contagious!!! It can spread by touching it, from clothes that have touched it, from a wash cloth, if she has rubbed it up against the furniture or anything. It will need a special perscription antibiotic ointment. You could wait until monday but in the mean time wash everything she has come in contact with. Don't let her touch it. Wash hands (everyones in the house)frequently. Clean the area with soap and water but do not use a cloth or sponge that will spread it around. Pat dry (do not rub) and throw the towel in the wash, then cover with a bandage. Good luck!
By the way, I agree with the tea tree oil recommendation. You can find it at health food stores. Just apply with a Q-tip.

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

My Son had a Staph infection on the top of his foot/near big toe. We didn't know it was a Staph infection. It started out as a blister. There was a bright red line for about 1 week or so. We took him to the Dr. and that's when they said it was a staph infection. They prescribed him antitbiotics. If the line is gone now, I would try the Lotrimin (jock itch cream), it heals ringworm and other rashes and it is over the counter. If the line comes back, I would definitely get it checked out, you may want to see another Dr. I would try the Lotrimin first for a few days and if you don't see any difference, I would defnitely go to the Dr. about it.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

I highly suggest that you begin using some Tea Tree oil products for the staph and the ringworm. Our kids came from Russian orphanages and staph was a HUGE problem. We tried everything and it just kept getting worse. A nurse friend of mine told me about Tea Tree oil. A home sales company called "Melaluca" sells all kinds of products containing this oil and it worked like a charm! I would suggest the hand and body soaps and the cleaning and disinfecting products. We have not had a problem since. Before we began using these products I was hysterical because it was spreading to the whole family and resulting in horrible, painful boils. The doctors prescribed tons of antibiotics that barely made a dent in the problem. Melaluca soaps and disinfectants cured it. You might also want to use the laundry products for a time until you have gone for several months without further incident. www.melaluca.com I don't sell it. I just want you to know it works. My son also had a problem with gingivitus and he almost had to have his braces removed. We used the Melaluca mouthwash in a water pic and it went away completely an a couple of weeks. Our orthodontist was shocked! Even the prescription washes did not work so well. Once these things get started they are very hard to cure. This does it.

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V.S.

answers from Dallas on

You don't need to go to the doctor or urgent care for ringworm. Ringworm is a fungus. It can be treated with a fungicide, a typical, store bought fungicide. You need go get something that would treat athlete's foot, like tinactin. Then you apply it twice a day. You apply it for a full week after the spot is gone, and some will suggest you apply it for two weeks after the spot is gone. Working for an animal rescue group for many years taught me that if you are consistent with treating it, it is no big deal. If you are inconsistent with treating it, it keeps coming back over and over.

VickiS

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R.L.

answers from Dallas on

HI A.

Starting with the staph...can I ask where she gets the rash? Only reason I ask, my daughter gets staph and my doctor said that someone in the family was the carrier. So, we had to treat everyone in the family and once I did that my daughter hasn't had it since.

Ringworm isn't a big deal. I am a school teacher and that is an everyday thing...use "womens" cream on it. should clear it up.

R.

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L.P.

answers from Amarillo on

Ok could be ringworm or is could be sorissis (msp) either way it is a fungus. Quick cure and works great for cradle cap also. Buy some lotrimin AF and some neosporin triple antibiotic and mix the 2 tubes together in a container with an air tight lid. Apply a small dab to the affected spots everynight before bed and continue for 2 days after rash is gone same with cradle cap only apply it in the morning and wash hair nightly DO NOT USE johnsons baby shampoo it is the harshest shampoo on the market it will strip the color out of your hair when you dye it. I did see alot of moms agree about the lotrimin but make sure to use the antibiotic with it cause the strength of the lotrimin can cause a sore in itself used straight this info came from the pharmacist.

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N.W.

answers from Dallas on

lamasil purchased at the drug store, over the counter. email me if you have any questions.

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

Well, I would take her in just to be sure. However, I used to work at a daycare in college and got ringworm from one of the kids in my classroom. I just used some over the counter anti fungal cream and it went away. It really isn't a big deal; however, you do need to make sure you use some cream so it doesn't spread. If I remember, it itches. Good luck.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

Ringworm is not actually a worm, so don't rush her to the urgent care thinking she's got some parasite living in her and eating her. It's actually a fungal infection.

I developed a spot on my arm a year or so ago and mentioned it on a doctor's visit. She prescribed an anti-fungal cream called Nystatin that I used and it quickly cleared it up.

It's a good product to have around as kids are prone to that kind of thing and it gets passed around the family.

If your child has an auto-immune disease or other complicating factors, that's a different story. Otherwise, it can probably wait until Monday. you can also look for something OTC.

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D.G.

answers from Dallas on

You can try any type of anti-fungal cream (Lamisil is really good)and that will treat it. It takes at least a week to be completely gone. My youngest just went through this a couple of months ago. We started the anti-fungal but since they were on his face we called the doctor and they called in a really strong med that took care of them really quick. And his started out just like you describe. Good luck !

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S.L.

answers from Dallas on

as for the ringworm, i'd buy the store brand jock itch cream and apply it daily up to a month until it goes away. easy cheesy.

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

Ringworm is a fungus. Go get some Lamisil for atheletes foot and put that on it. Works every time.

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L.P.

answers from Dallas on

Put lamisil (SP?) or vagisil (SP?) on it and keep it covered with a band-aid. There really isn't any reason to go to the doctor unless it is on her scalp. It usually takes about 2 weeks to go away. I see them at school all the time. It is very contagious (SP?)

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

Ringworm is actually fungus, staph is bacteria. What in the world is happening at your place that is infecting a 10 month old this way? Do you have pets that go outside? Do they interact in a public place with other animals? Do you live on a farm? Do you have chickens? Is there an underlying medical problem that makes her particularly vulnerable to fungus and bacteria? Is there something that needs some attention with some disinfecting agent somewhere on your property or somewhere she goes or somewhere someone who touches her goes? If you don't get these questions from your pediatrician, get a new pediatrician. You probably don't need urgent care, but I'd head in on Monday/Tuesday. Good luck!

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