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Should Children With Ringworm Attend School?
Ringworm, or tinea, is a fungal infection of the skin. It does not involve an actual worm; it gets its name from the red, circular rash it produces. The infection can be spread easily by direct contact or indirect contact through shared clothing or sports equipment. School board policies vary throughout the country, but students diagnosed with ringworm are usually required to avoid activity that is likely to spread the infection.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Attending School
Students with ringworm should not have to miss school or day care, the American Academy of Pediatrics says on its Healthy Children website. Students diagnosed with ringworm should, however, receive treatment for the condition and avoid contact that could spread the infection.
Participating in Sports
Can You Get a Ringworm on the Mouth?
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Most skin conditions do not affect sports participation, but ringworm typically does 1. Because:
- ringworm can be spread through gym mats
- helmets
- towels as well as by direct contact
- most sports activities
- particularly those involving skin-to-skin contact
- are off-limits to students diagnosed with ringworm
Symptoms
The telltale symptom of ringworm is a round rash with a raised, rough, scaly border. As the rash gets larger, the center tends to clear, giving the appearance of a round worm under the skin. Though no such worm is present, the ring continues to grow if left untreated and is usually somewhat itchy. Any rash fitting this description that doesn’t disappear after two weeks may be ringworm.
- The telltale symptom of ringworm is a round rash with a raised, rough, scaly border.
- Though no such worm is present, the ring continues to grow if left untreated and is usually somewhat itchy.
Other Causes
Bumps in a Circle on the Skin
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Animals with ringworm, particularly pet dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits or horses, can transmit the infection. In rare cases, exposure to highly infected soil can also be a source of infection.
Treatment
The fungal infection that causes ringworm is treated through topical and orally administered medication. If infection occurs on the scalp, special shampoo may be prescribed. Antifungal treatment generally lasts four to six weeks.
Related Articles
References
- Healthy Children: Skin Conditions and Sport Participation
- MayoClinic.com: Ringworm Symptoms
- Homei A, Worboys M. Fungal Disease in Britain and the United States 1850–2000: Mycoses and Modernity. Basingstoke (UK): Palgrave Macmillan; 2013. Chapter 1, Ringworm: A Disease of Schools and Mass Schooling. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK169210/
- Jain A, Jain S, Rawat S. Emerging fungal infections among children: A review on its clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prevention. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2010;2(4):314–320. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.72131
- Yee G, Al Aboud AM. Tinea Corporis. [Updated 2019 Jul 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544360/
- Alkeswani A, Duncan JR, Theos A. Tinea faciei starting at day two of life. Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(1):e20-e22.
- Furlan KC, Kakizaki P, Chartuni JC, Valente NY. Sycosiform tinea barbae caused by trichophyton rubrum and its association with autoinoculation. An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(1):160–161. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20174802
- Hay RJ. Tinea Capitis: Current Status. Mycopathologia. 2017;182(1-2):87–93. doi:10.1007/s11046-016-0058-8
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Athlete's foot: Overview. 2015 Jan 14 [Updated 2018 Jun 14].Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279549/
- Nadalo D, Montoya C, Hunter-smith D. What is the best way to treat tinea cruris?. J Fam Pract. 2006;55(3):256-8.
- Das S, Barbhuniya JN, Biswas I, Bhattacharya S, Kundu PK. Studies on comparison of the efficacy of terbinafine 1% cream and butenafine 1% cream for the treatment of Tinea cruris. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2010;1(1):8–9. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.73249
- Errichetti E, Stinco G. Dermoscopy in tinea manuum. An Bras Dermatol. 2018;93(3):447–448. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20186366
- Piraccini BM, Alessandrini A. Onychomycosis: A Review. J Fungi (Basel). 2015;1(1):30–43. Published 2015 Mar 27. doi:10.3390/jof1010030
- Ashraf M, Biswas J. Chronic ringworm infestation and Marjolin's ulcer, an association unknown in the literature. Rare Tumors. 2010;2(2):e31. Published 2010 Jun 30. doi:10.4081/rt.2010.e31
- Landry GL, Chang CJ, Mees PD. Treating and avoiding herpes and tinea infections in contact sports. Phys Sportsmed. 2004;32(10):43-4.
- Davis EC, Callender VD. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010;3(7):20–31.
- Fuller LC, Child FJ, Midgley G, Higgins EM. Diagnosis and management of scalp ringworm. BMJ. 2003;326(7388):539–541. doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7388.539
- Boral H, Durdu M, Ilkit M. Majocchi's granuloma: current perspectives. Infect Drug Resist. 2018;11:751–760. Published 2018 May 22. doi:10.2147/IDR.S145027
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- Ely JW, Rosenfeld S, Seabury stone M. Diagnosis and management of tinea infections. Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(10):702-10.
- “Ringworm: Signs and Symptoms.” American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Dermatology.
- Laniosz V, Wetter DA. "What's New in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Dermatophytosis?" Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2014 Sep;33(3):136-9.
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Writer Bio
Joseph Nicholson is an independent analyst whose publishing achievements include a cover feature for "Futures Magazine" and a recurring column in the monthly newsletter of a private mint. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Florida and is currently attending law school in San Francisco.