Ringworm

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.