How to Prevent Ringworm Infection

Your family pet can spread ringworm throughout your home.]] Ringworm is an infection caused by a type of fungus called a dermatophyte. It is not an actual worm that infects the body. Spread through contact with a person or animal with the infection, ringworm can be prevented with the proper hygiene and following a few guidelines.

Steps

 * 1) Know who is at risk. Ringworm (dermatophyte) infections are very common and can affect anyone. There are however some people who are at a higher risk than others of getting the infection. This includes:
 * 2) *People who frequently use communal baths or showers.
 * 3) *People who participate in contact sports, such as wrestling.
 * 4) *Persons with suppressed immune systems.
 * 5) Understand that children in school settings and people in institutions are at risk of being infected during an outbreak of the infection.
 * 6) Know how to prevent the infection. The following steps will help you prevent the spread of the infection:
 * 7) *Wash your hands regularly.
 * 8) *Do not share hairbrushes, hats and articles of clothing that might have come into contact with an infected area. Make sure your children are aware of this rule.
 * 9) *Take your pet to a veterinarian at the first sign of skin irritation.
 * 10) *Insure that your barber shop or beauty salon worker properly sterilize instruments before and after use.
 * 11) Maintain regular cleaning.
 * 12) *For surfaces that are unharmed by bleach, a quarter-cup of bleach per gallon of water can be safely used as a disinfectant.
 * 13) *Washable items and clothing should be washed in hot water and hot-air dried to help remove and kill spores.

Tips

 * Your doctor may make an assumptive diagnosis based on your symptoms. Confirmation of the diagnosis may require scrapings of affected skin. Results of the test may not be known for 2-4 weeks.
 * Infections can be successfully treated with medication prescribed by your doctor.
 * Symptoms of an infection generally appear 4-14 days after exposure to the dermatophyte.
 * Dermatophytes like to live on moist areas of the skin.

Warnings

 * Areas of the body infected by a dermatophyte can sometimes cause a secondary infection.
 * Aggressive infections may lead to an abscess or cellulitis (spreading inflammation).

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/dermatophytes_gi.html#7

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Ringworm-Infection