Ringworm in kids is a common fungal skin infection that causes itchy, red rash rings to form around the normal skin. It commonly occurs in hot and humid climates, affecting people across ages, including children. There are several types of ringworms that are caused by dermophytes, fungi types that inhibit the skin, hair, and nailbeds. Timely identification and treatment of ringworm can help relieve itching. Keep reading this post to know about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of ringworm in children.
What Causes Ringworm In Children?
Ringworm is caused by any fungus from a group called dermatophytes (1). The most common fungi that cause the infection are from the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. These fungi are found almost everywhere in the environment. Once a fungus gets on to the skin, it spreads on the outer keratinous/hard layer of the skin, nails, and the scalp. It propagates in a circular, ring-like pattern, thus giving its name. Dermatophyte fungi cannot invade layers of skin beyond the dry, hard outer one. Therefore, ringworms are never found in mucus-rich regions like inside the nose, mouth, and the genitals. The medical term for ringworm is tinea. The name gets a suffix depending on the part of the body affected by the infection.
What Are The Types Of Ringworm?
The type of ringworm depends on the part of the body affected. Here are the kinds of tinea infection and the part of the body affected (2) (3):
Tinea capitis: Scalp and hair Tinea pedis: Feet; it is also called Athlete’s foot Tinea corporis: Torso and limbs Tinea cruris: Groin area and the area around the genitals Tinea manuum: Hands and the palm area Tinea faciei: Face Tinea unguium: When the fungus affects the nails
Each type of ringworm has different symptoms. Let’s see what they are.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ringworm In Kids?
The symptoms of ringworm vary depending on the part of the body affected (4) :
1. Tinea capitis:
It begins as small, red, scaly rash on the scalp and starts itching.
The itching intensifies as the rash increases in size and becomes embossed in a ring-like pattern.
You will notice hair loss at the spot of the ringworm. If there are several ringworms on the head, then you will see multiple circular bald areas on the scalp.
Sometimes, due to severe inflammatory response, elevated boggy granulomatous masses studded with pustules appear on the scalp (Kerion).
It is the most common type of ringworm to occur in children.
2. Tinea pedis and tinea manuum:
Most commonly, the lateral toe webs (third to fourth and fourth to fifth interdigital space) are affected.
The first symptoms are the development of a reddish-white, moist, and itchy patch of the skin usually between the toes/fingers.
Scales develop on parts of the feet/hand.
The scales and red patches become itchy.
You may eventually see itchy blisters on the sole of the feet in the case of tinea pedis.
Sometimes, the infection begins from the sole of the feet instead of between the toes. Tinea pedis is more common in adolescents than in prepubertal children.
3. Tinea corporis and tinea faciei:
It usually has circular, ring-like lesion with clear skin at the center.
In the case of tinea faciei, the fungus may show around the eyes, eyelids, and below the ear.
The diameter of the lesion may appear to grow as the fungus spreads. The spreading fungus usually leaves the area in the center clear.
The ring feels itchy and you may also notice white, flaky skin along the seam of the ring.
4. Tinea cruris:
Small, reddened patches of skin gradually expand to a larger lesion that flanks the genitals. The lesions are mostly concentrated around the folds of skin in the groin.
The red patch expands and gets itchy. The fungus extends with a well-marked, scaly, red border.
The fungus does not occur on genitals. In boys, tinea cruris is seldom seen on the skin of the scrotum.
Tinea cruris is also called jock’s itch. It is most common in adolescent boys.
It is more common in hot weather conditions.
5. Tinea unguium:
The nail ringworm has a different manifestation than other types of tinea.
Nails thicken and have yellow patches. They may become brittle and flake.
The patches expand and spread to the nail bed. The yellow patches darken to become grayish in color.
Tinea unguium is less common in prepubertal children and mostly seen in adolescents. Nail ringworm is more likely to affect the toenails than the fingernails.
How Do Kids Get Ringworm?
Children get the infection when the microscopic dermatophyte fungi settle on the skin and the conditions are right for it to spread and cause ringworm. Certain factors increase the risk of getting the infection (5) (6) (7): If your child has any of these risk factors and displays symptoms as mentioned in the previous section, you may take them to a doctor for a diagnosis.
How Is Ringworm In Children Diagnosed?
A doctor uses the following diagnostic methods:
How Is Ringworm In Kids Treated?
Here are some medications commonly used to treat ringworm (8): The doctor may also prescribe additional items like an antifungal soap and a medicated skin lotion to reduce the spread of the ringworm further.
How Long Does Ringworm Last In Kids?
Ringworms can take a week to 3-4 weeks after the initiation of medication to cure completely. In most cases, ringworm does not last for more than a month since the beginning of the treatment. Children with immunity problems like those with AIDS and cancer may have the infection for longer. There are no complications of ringworm and once the infection is treated, the child will have healthy skin.
What Are The Home Remedies For Ringworm In Kids?
There is no effective home remedy against ringworm in children. Some items are quite popularly used as a home cure for ringworm, but most do not cure the condition completely. A few home remedies for ringworm are apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, coconut oil, and garlic paste. These are often applied to the infected area using a cotton ball. Evidence suggests that these items contain antifungal properties (9) (10) (11), but there is no reliable proof that these agents can eliminate the fungi entirely. Nevertheless, it is best to avoid home remedies if the child is on medication since home remedies could interfere with the effective action of drug compounds. Prevention is the best thing you can do at home to protect your child from ringworm.
How To Prevent Ringworm In Kids?
Preventing ringworm in children is easier than you think. Here is what you can do:
