The chance of ringworm being contagious after a person has started taking medication should be greatly reduced within 24 hours of starting treatment. After between 48 hours and one week of treatment, the infection should become non-contagious and the chances of another person catching it should be close to zero.
Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. It tends to spread by direct skin to skin contact. It causes a red ring-like rash which can appear anywhere on the body, although the scalp, groin and feet are particularly common places where the rashes tend to occur. It is not a serious condition but it is highly contagious if left untreated. You can get antifungal creams to treat ringworm from most pharmacies.
If you have ringworm of the scalp, however, you will probably need to see a doctor because this type of ringworm is only treatable by using tablets that do not tend to be available over the counter at a pharmacy. There are also antifungal shampoos that can be used to treat ringworm on the scalp.
A human can catch ringworm either from another human who is suffering from the condition or from a pet such as a cat or dog. The infection can also be spread if a person touches something that an infected person or animal has previously touched. There is also a risk of catching ringworm from infected soil.
It is estimated that between 10% and 20% of people will suffer from ringworm at some point during their lifetime. People of all ages can be affected by ringworm, but young children tend to be particularly susceptible to getting infected.
The National Health Service provides a thorough guide to treating ringworm at www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Ringworm/Pages/Treatment.aspx
Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. It tends to spread by direct skin to skin contact. It causes a red ring-like rash which can appear anywhere on the body, although the scalp, groin and feet are particularly common places where the rashes tend to occur. It is not a serious condition but it is highly contagious if left untreated. You can get antifungal creams to treat ringworm from most pharmacies.
If you have ringworm of the scalp, however, you will probably need to see a doctor because this type of ringworm is only treatable by using tablets that do not tend to be available over the counter at a pharmacy. There are also antifungal shampoos that can be used to treat ringworm on the scalp.
A human can catch ringworm either from another human who is suffering from the condition or from a pet such as a cat or dog. The infection can also be spread if a person touches something that an infected person or animal has previously touched. There is also a risk of catching ringworm from infected soil.
It is estimated that between 10% and 20% of people will suffer from ringworm at some point during their lifetime. People of all ages can be affected by ringworm, but young children tend to be particularly susceptible to getting infected.
The National Health Service provides a thorough guide to treating ringworm at www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Ringworm/Pages/Treatment.aspx
