Violation of the rules of personal hygiene when communicating with your favorite Pets can cause such an unpleasant disease as ringworm. Read this article on what signs it can be recognized, how to treat it, and what to do to prevent it.
What is ringworm
The cause of the disease is not lichens, as it may seem, but two types of microscopic fungi of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. Along with people, cats and dogs that have access to the street are most often affected. They often infect their hosts, bringing fungus on their fur. People can get infected when working in the garden or in the garden, and animals — while digging the soil.
How to recognize a disease
Symptoms depend on where the fungus spores have sprouted. When a skin infection initially appears specific red spots on the body, head or groin area. They itch and flake. Bubbles develop inside the spots after a few days. If the nails are affected, they become thicker, discolored, and may start to crack. If the skin on the head is affected, the hair around it may break or fall out, and receding hairline appears.
It is not always easy to make a diagnosis. Sometimes the disease may resemble eczema or allergies. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor and check the animals with a veterinarian. To confirm the diagnosis, you may need a series of tests and examination of the skin in the light of a fluorescent lamp: fungal lesions emit a glow.
How to treat this problem?
After diagnosis, the doctor may recommend medications and lifestyle adjustments to eliminate the symptoms of ringworm. If this is not a serious condition, local remedies can be used — antifungal sprays or ointments, creams that are applied in a course. A common infection that affects the skin on the head, in the groin, as well as the fact of a large number of diseases on the body will require ingestion of medications in tablets or capsules.
In addition to the prescribed medications, you will need to take additional precautions at home.
- Wash bed linen and clothing daily to avoid spreading infection to family members and re-infection.
- Thoroughly dry the skin after bathing: fungi like moisture and heat, they multiply more actively in such conditions.
- Wear loose clothing so that it does not RUB the affected areas of the skin.
- In parallel, treat Pets if they have become a source of infection.
Can I use traditional medicine?
People used home remedies for ringworm for centuries before researchers invented antifungal treatments. Among the most popular products are vinegar applications: cotton balls soaked in Apple cider vinegar are applied to the affected areas of the skin three times a day for 5-10 minutes.
Similarly, olive, sunflower and linseed oils are used.
The third most popular treatment for ringworm folk remedy is turmeric. This spice, when mixed with boiled water, makes an excellent antifungal paste: it is applied in a thin layer directly on the skin 2 times a day, allowed to dry, and then washed off with warm water.
However, to date, medicine does not have scientific data confirming the advantage of folk methods over antifungal drugs, so they can only Supplement, but not replace the main treatment!
Is ringworm contagious for everyone?
Unfortunately, no one is immune from the risk of Contracting ringworm. The infection can spread through contact with both sick animals and sick people.
But there are 4 provoking factors that increase the risk of infection.
1. Steamed or wet skin after prolonged exposure to water.
2. the Presence of damage and abrasions on the skin.
3. Regular use of a public shower or pool.
4. Frequent walking barefoot on the ground or grass (this can also lead to ringworm of the feet).
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