Jonathan Lyadda
A ring worm is a fungal infection that affects both children and adults and can spread from person to person. It lives on the dead tissue of your skin, hair and nails. It causes Athlete’s foot when it gets between toes.
Signs and symptoms
A ringworn infection appears patches and rashes on the infected area and later spreads to other parts of the body.
Other symptoms are;
•Patches that resemble a ring
•Around, flat patch of itchy skin.
•Patches that develop blisters.
• In the hair, ring worms can start as a tiny pimple that progressively expands leaving scaly patches of temporary baldness.
How it spreads;
- Through close contact with an infected person or animal.
- Sharing clothing, bedding or towels with someone who has a fungal infection.
- Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
- Having a weak immune system.
Prevention
•Avoid sharing towels , sponges and combs and make sure you get hair cut from barber shop you trust
•Wash your hair well to prevent the further spread of infection to other parts of the head and body though this doesn’t kill it.
•Ensure that you iron your clothes well as heat kills the worms.
• If you have ring worms In the head , keep it short and well managed and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Caution
If not treated, the skin can become irritated and at times painful when skin blisters and cracks become infected with bacteria.
If symptoms persist, seek medical attention or see a physician immediately.
