Although ringworm sounds like a dangerous infection that involves worms, it is actually a fungal skin infection that can affect the body or the scalp. It isn't painful or harmful, but it is contagious and it can be irritating. Ringworm most commonly appears in kids over age two, but it can also show up in babies, according to BabyCenter.com. In order to successfully treat ringworm in your baby, you should first understand how it forms and know what it looks like.
Appearance
Ringworm lesions are typically round and reddish with a scaly, blistered or bumpy border, according to pediatric health website AskDrSears.com. As the lesions grow, the center typically appears normal and clear but the border is dime-sized up to multiple inches across, and it is easy to distinguish from the skin around it, says AskDrSears.com. A baby with ringworm on his scalp may have patches of scaly or bald spots with stubs of broken-off hair, adds BabyCenter.com.
Diagnosis
A doctor can typically identify ringworm by looking at your baby's skin. However, if he isn't sure, he might take a scraping of a lesion and examine the slide under a microscope to look for the ringworm fungus, according to AskDrSears.com.
Risks
A baby doesn't understand the concept that scratching could cause a bacterial infection in her skin, so you should keep a close eye on her, trim her nails down and put mittens on her hands while she's sleeping to reduce damage, recommends BabyCenter.com. Also, because your baby is likely to scratch at her spots, she is more likely to spread it to other children with her hands, says AskDrSears.com. If she's in daycare, talk to her caregiver about the facility's ringworm policy.
Treatment
Your doctor will likely recommend an over-the-counter antifungal cream if your baby has ringworm on his body. If you're using a cream, you will need to apply it liberally twice daily for about three to four weeks to get rid of ringworm, notes BabyCenter.com. Your doctor will probably prescribe one or more medications if the body ringworm case doesn't respond to over-the-counter treatment or if your baby has ringworm on his scalp. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying ointment to your baby's rash, and completely wash his bedding once you start treatment so he doesn't get ringworm again, says BabyCenter.com.
Prevention
You can minimize your baby's chances of getting ringworm by taking a few precautions. First, reduce excessive sweating by keeping her in airy clothing in warm weather, says BabyCenter.com. Also, if she's mobile, put her in sandals when she's in locker rooms and in pool areas. Additionally don't let other people share with your baby any brushes, pillows, clothing or other items that might touch her skin, and check other family members and pets for ringworm.
