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| Division of Public Health Services Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers | |
| Bureau of Infectious Disease Control REVISED –January 2018 | |
| Ringworm (Tinea) | |
| Tinea, more commonly called ring worm is a skin | |
| infection caused by a fungus that lives on the skin, | |
| surfaces of items, or household items – like | |
| bedding, clothing, or toys. Ringworm can affect | |
| any part of the body including the scalp. | |
| Who get this disease? | |
| Anyone can get the disease. It is transmitted | |
| through direct contact with the fungus including | |
| touching another person or surface containing the | |
| fungus. Ringworm can also be transmitted by | |
| contact with animals (e.g. cats and dogs). | |
| What are the symptoms? | |
| Ringworm affecting the skin causes a red, circular | |
| patch to form. The patch usually has a raised | |
| edge. Ringworm between the toes, or more | |
| commonly called athlete’s foot, causes the skin | |
| between the toes to appear cracked and peelin g. | |
| Ringworm of the scalp can cause redness of the | |
| scalp or loss of hair. | |
| Symptoms typically appear between 4 -14 days | |
| after contact with the fungus. | |
| How is it diagnosed and treated? | |
| A diagnosis of ringworm is made by a healthcare | |
| provider based on the clinical features of the skin. | |
| The healthcare provider may feel necessary to | |
| take a scraping of the skin for a culture. | |
| Ringworm of the skin can be treated with an over- | |
| the-counter antifungal cream or lotion. Ringworm | |
| of the scalp can only be treated wi th a prescribed | |
| antifungal medication from the child’s health care | |
| provider. | |
| How can the spread of this disease be | |
| prevented? | |
| 1. Items frequently touched by children (i.e. | |
| toys and surfaces) should be washed or | |
| wiped down frequently. This can be done | |
| with a diluted bleach solution. | |
| 2. Children should not be allowed to walk | |
| barefoot | |
| 3. Do not allow children to share personal | |
| items like brushes or combs. | |
| 4. Children should wash their hands with | |
| soap and warm water after touching any | |
| animals | |
| 5. Socks should be changed daily or if they | |
| become wet for any reason. | |
| 6. While under treatment swimming pools | |
| should be avoided. | |
| Who should be excluded? | |
| The child’s parent or guardian should be | |
| telephoned/emailed or a note sent home | |
| at the end | |
| of the school day stating that the child needs to be | |
| seen by his/her health care provider related to the | |
| potential for infection. | |
| The child should be excluded until treatment is | |
| started. | |
| Reportable? | |
| No, ringworm is not reportable by New | |
| Hampshire law. However, the Bureau of | |
| Infectious Disea se Control professionals are | |
| available for consultation at (603) 271-4496. | |