Ring worm? how do you get it, what does it do?

Question

I am doing this for school project need real ppl sources that have had, or know someone who has

Answer 1

fungus, wrestling team got it from not cleaning there mats after wards.You can get it from sharing towels.

The term "ringworm" or "ringworms" refers to fungal infections that are on the surface of the skin. (The early belief was that the infection was due to a worm, which it is not, although the name has stuck.) Some of these fungi produce round spots, but many do not. On the other hand, many round spots are not fungus. A physical examination of the affected skin, evaluation of skin scrapings under the microscope, and culture tests can help doctors make the appropriate distinctions. A proper diagnosis is essential to successful treatment.

The medical term for ringworm is "tinea." (Tinea gets us back to worms. Tinea is the Latin name for a growing worm.) Doctors add another word to indicate where the fungus is located. Tinea capitis, for instance, refers to scalp ringworm, tinea corporis to fungus of the body, tinea pedis to fungus of the feet, and so on.

What causes ringworm?

Although the world is full of yeasts, molds, and fungi, only a few cause skin problems. These agents are called the dermatophytes, which means "skin fungi." Skin fungi can only live on the dead layer of keratin protein on top of the skin. They rarely invade deeper into the body and cannot live on mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or vagina.

Answer 2

It's a fungus. Spread by contact with an infected person's skin or perhaps there personal belongings.
Embarrassing to say I had it once. It's itchy; it really does grow out in a ring-shape. Once I realized what it was, I got rid of it by using a foot fungus spray, like Tinactin. I think I was about 13-14 years old.

Answer 3

Although the words ringworm, jock itch, and athlete's foot may sound funny, if you're a teen with one of these skin infections, you're probably not laughing. If you've ever had one, you know that any of these infections can produce some pretty unpleasant symptoms. The good news is that tinea, the name for this category of common skin infections, is generally easy to treat. Read on to learn more about ringworm.

The Basics on Tinea Infections
Tinea (pronounced: tih-nee-uh) is the medical name for a group of related skin infections, including athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. These infections are caused by several types of mold-like fungi called dermatophytes (pronounced: der-mah-tuh-fites) that live on the dead tissues of the skin, hair, and nails.

What Is Ringworm?
Ringworm, which isn't a worm at all, can affect not only the skin, but also the nails and scalp.

Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Ringworm tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. Over time, it may begin to look like a ring or a series of rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear). This ring pattern gave ringworm its name, but not every person who's infected develops the rings.

When ringworm affects the feet it's known as athlete's foot, and the rash, which is usually between a person's toes, appears patchy. In fact, the rashes a person gets with athlete's foot and jock itch may not look like rings at all — they may be red, scaly patches.

Ringworm of the scalp may start as a small sore that resembles a pimple before becoming patchy, flaky, or scaly. It may cause some hair to fall out or break into stubbles. It can also cause the place where the infection is to become swollen, tender, and red.

Ringworm of the nails may affect one or more nails on a person's hands or feet. The nails may become thick, white or yellowish, and brittle. Ringworm of the nails is not too common before puberty, though.

Can I Prevent Ringworm?
The most common sources of the fungi that cause tinea infections are other people. Ringworm is contagious and is easily spread from one person to another, so avoid touching an infected area on another person. It's also possible to become infected from contact with animals, like cats and dogs.

It can be difficult to avoid ringworm because the dermatophyte fungi are very common. To protect yourself against infection, it can help to wear flip-flops on your feet in the locker room shower or at the pool, and to wash sports clothing regularly. Because fungi are on your skin, it's important to shower after contact sports and to wash your hands often, especially after touching pets.

If you discover a red, patchy, itchy area that you think may be ringworm, call your doctor.

How Is Ringworm Treated?
Fortunately, ringworm is fairly easy to diagnose and treat. Doctors usually can diagnose ringworm based on how it looks, but sometimes will scrape off a small sample of the flaky infected skin to test for fungus.

If you do have ringworm, your doctor will recommend an antifungal medication. A topical ointment or cream usually takes care of skin infections, but ringworm of the scalp or nails requires oral antifungal medication. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.

Aso go to webmd.com

Answer 4

Ringworm, which isn't a worm at all, can affect not only the skin, but also the nails and scalp.

Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Ringworm tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. Over time, it may begin to look like a ring or a series of rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear). This ring pattern gave ringworm its name, but not every person who's infected develops the rings.

When ringworm affects the feet it's known as athlete's foot, and the rash, which is usually between a person's toes, appears patchy. In fact, the rashes a person gets with athlete's foot and jock itch may not look like rings at all — they may be red, scaly patches.

Ringworm of the scalp may start as a small sore that resembles a pimple before becoming patchy, flaky, or scaly. It may cause some hair to fall out or break into stubbles. It can also cause the place where the infection is to become swollen, tender, and red.

Ringworm of the nails may affect one or more nails on a person's hands or feet. The nails may become thick, white or yellowish, and brittle. Ringworm of the nails is not too common before puberty, though.

Can I Prevent Ringworm?
The most common sources of the fungi that cause tinea infections are other people. Ringworm is contagious and is easily spread from one person to another, so avoid touching an infected area on another person. It's also possible to become infected from contact with animals, like cats and dogs.

It can be difficult to avoid ringworm because the dermatophyte fungi are very common. To protect yourself against infection, it can help to wear flip-flops on your feet in the locker room shower or at the pool, and to wash sports clothing regularly. Because fungi are on your skin, it's important to shower after contact sports and to wash your hands often, especially after touching pets.

If you discover a red, patchy, itchy area that you think may be ringworm, call your doctor.

How Is Ringworm Treated?
Fortunately, ringworm is fairly easy to diagnose and treat. Doctors usually can diagnose ringworm based on how it looks, but sometimes will scrape off a small sample of the flaky infected skin to test for fungus.

If you do have ringworm, your doctor will recommend an antifungal medication. A topical ointment or cream usually takes care of skin infections, but ringworm of the scalp or nails requires oral antifungal medication. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you.

Reviewed by: Patrice Hyde, MD
Date reviewed: February 2006

Answer 5

My wife does nails so she studied this sort of thing.

Ring worm is NOT a worm or animal, it is a fungal infection (like the person above, says). It is also known as "athletes foot", and "jock itch".

Most athlete's foot powders and sprays will take care of the infection. Use as directed (if they say it takes 4 weeks, then you better use it for 4 weeks). I've used some products for one week, and the symptoms go away, but then they come back -- the fungus didn't get wiped out completely.

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Answer 6

Its a fungus that grows in circular patterns on your skin. It itches a little. There are easy treatments for it, ointments you apply once or twice a day for about a month, then its gone. It spreads so you have to catch it early and treat it consistent with recommendations on the container. You can catch it from other people who have it, or clothes (which you need to wash thuroughly ) or from your cat, so wash your hands well after petting kitty.

Answer 7

mostly kids get it from playing in the dirt or playing with things that are really dirty. but if not treated will get bigger and bigger, it looks like a rash, but is a noticeable circle of dots.

"Ringworm is caused by fungi (plural of fungus). It is not caused by a worm or other parasite. The fungi that cause ringworm live and multiply on the outer layer of the skin."

more info on the site

Answer 8

It's a fungus, if you touch something that has the germ on it, you'll get it. And it looks like a ring. Hence the name "ring-worm".

I have had it, you just get a cream to get rid of it.

Answer 9

Try:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_worm

Answer 10

My kids get it a lot.

Ringworm is usually a mild fungal infection of the skin. Affected areas can include:

body - typical ringworm or tinea corporis
scalp - tinea capitis
feet - athlete's foot or tinea pedis
groin - jock itch or tinea cruris