Endocrinology

What Is Ringworm? What Is Body Ringworm? What Is Scalp Ringworm?

scalp ringworm lab tests take a long time to come back, approximately a couple of weeks. In the UK most doctors will prescribe terbinafine straight away and then review his/her choice of medication after checking the lab results. Treatment for ringworm? Scalp ringworm treatment The most common treatment for scalp ringworm are oral anti-fungals (tablets). Examples include, Terbinafine (Lamisil) and griseofulvin (Grisovin). However, the choice of medication will depend on the type of fungi involved, as well as patient preference. Terbinafine (Lamisil) - taken once daily for four weeks. Side effects are generally mild and do not last long, they may include: *Diarrhea *Skin reactions (rash) *Indigestion *Nausea *Sense of taste affected - rare If you have a history of liver disease you should not take terbinafine. Griseofulvin (Grisovin) - taken once or twice daily for about two months. Side effects, which usually go away fairly quickly, may include: *Vomiting *Nausea *Headache *Indigestion *Diarrhea (mild) Griseofulvin must NOT be taken by pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant as there is a risk of birth defects. Women should not try to become pregnant for at least one month after treatment has stopped. Men should wait until six months after treatment has stopped before trying to get a female partner pregnant. Patients taking combined or progestogen-only oral contraceptives and take griseofulvin should use a barrier form of contraception, such as a condom, because griseofulvin interferes with the contraceptive"s efficacy. Griseofulvin may affect your ability to drive safely, or operate heavy machinery. Griseofulvin makes the effects of alcohol more pronounced. Anti-fungal shampoos - they can help prevent the spread of ringworm and may speed up recovery, but they do not cure it. Examples of anti-fungal shampoos include selenium sulphide. They should be used about twice a week. Shaving a child"s head - all this will do is give him/her a head with no hair. There is absolutely no evidence that this reduces ringworm infection, or accelerates recovery time. Skin ringworm and groin infections treatment The majority of cases may be treated with OTC (over-the-counter, no prescription required) anti-fungal creams. Those that contain terbinafine have been proven to be effective, according to studies. A qualified pharmacist should be able to help you. Apply the cream to the affected areas once daily for two weeks. Read instructions carefully - anti-fungal creams do not all have the same instructions. If your symptoms do not change after the two weeks, see your doctor. If symptoms are severe, of if they cover a large area of the body and do not respond to OTC medications, the doctor may prescribe a prescription-strength topical medication. A topical medication is one that you apply to the skin, such as a lotion, cream or ointment. The most common topical medications prescribed in the USA are: *Butenafine (Mentax) *Ciclopirox (Loprox) *Econazole *Miconazole (Monistat-Derm) *Oxiconazole (Oxistat) *Terbinafine (Lamisil) The doctor may prescribe an oral medication (taken by mouth). These may include: *Itraconazole (Sporanox) *Fluconazole (Diflucan) *Ketoconazole (Nizoral) *Terbinafine (Lamisil) These oral medications may have some side effects, including stomach upset, rash, or abnormal liver function. If you are taking medications for ulcer disease or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the oral antifungal may not work so well. Oral medications for ringworm may make the drug-thinning blood warfarin less effective. Caring for your skin - skin ringworm and groin infections *Wash the skin gently *Dry the skin thoroughly, but gently. Pat the skin with a towel in tender areas, don"t rub. Make sure folds and areas between the toes are dried thoroughly. *Change your underwear more often than usual (groin infection) *Athlete"s foot and groin infection - always treat both areas at the same time. Groin infections are often caused by infection that started with athlete"s foot, and sometimes vice-versa. Put your socks on before your underwear if you have athlete"s foot. Prevention of ringworm If somebody has ringworm in the house: *Pets - if the pet is found to be the of the infection you will need to take it to the vet. One of the signs of ringworm may be patches of missing fur. *Wash your hands regularly. Get an antibacterial and anti-fungal soap, or one that contains tea tree oil, which contains terpinen-4-ol. *Check yourself - everyone in the house should check themselves for signs of ringworm. *Do not share combs, hairbrushes, clothing, bed lining, towels, or shoes/slippers/sandals. *The patient should not scratch the affected areas as this increases the risk of spreading the infection. This is easier said than done, especially if one of the symptoms includes itchiness. *Clothing - remember that tight and thick clothing make the fungi"s environment ideal. Wear light loose clothing, especially if the weather is warm. *Sweating - try to avoid excessive sweating. *Avoid walking around the house with bare feet. *Wash clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap if there is ringworm in the house. Complications of ringworm Fungal infection very rarely spreads below the surface of the skin. The risk of any serious illness is very small. If complications do occur, they may include: *Spreading - the infection may spread from one part of the body to another - this is the most common complication. *Bacterial infections - if the skin is broken bacteria may get in and cause an infection. In such cases the patient may need an antibiotic. *Weakened immune systems - people with HIV, and other conditions that weaken the immune system are much more likely to experience spreading of ringworm. It is much more difficult to get rid of the infection if your immune system is weak. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Pages: 1 [2] 

Add your comment:

Name:
Site address:	http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits (spam protection):