Ringworm is a common fungal infection that causes a red flat, ring-shaped rash on the skin.
Ringworm
Summary
Ringworm is very contagious and is spread by contact with a person or animal who has ringworm, or by touching an object or surface that may contain the fungus, eg, brushes or towels.
Ringworm can be treated by antifungal medications. Your public health nurse, pharmacist or doctor can show you which cream to use to kill the infection.
Time off from kura or school
Children do not need to be excluded from school or childcare. However, skin contact should be avoided until the ringworm goes away.
Symptoms
Ringworm causes red, flat, ring-shaped infection on the skin that is usually dry and itchy.
Ringworm on the scalp can cause round, painful red patches and make hair fall out.
Treatment
- Check and clean skin every day.
- See your doctor if the ringworm is on your child’s scalp as this needs to be treated with medicine.
- For ringworm on other parts of the body a public health nurse, pharmacist or doctor can show you which cream to use to kill the infection.
- Go to the doctor if your child has a fever or their skin becomes swollen, warm or leaking fluid.
- Check other children for ringworm.
- Treat any animals or pets with ringworm.
Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.
Prevention
Ringworm spreads easily through contact with a person or animal who has ringworm, so ringworm is difficult to prevent.
However, there are things you can do to help prevent infection:
- Avoid contact with infected people and animals.
- Always wash hands thoroughly and dry them well.
- Make sure to dry moist areas of the body very well – armpits, groin, between toes.
- Don’t share brushes, clothes or towels with an infected person.
- Don’t walk in bare feet on damp floors or communal showers.