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How Long Is Ring Worm Contagious After Treatment Is Started?

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Jeromeproofer Penn Profile
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
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
I am getting a lot of mixed advise for the same question.  Some say it is contagious until it clears completely, while others say ringworm is not contagious after about two weeks of treatment and the ring (which is the raised part) has gone down.  Why don't we agree on any one answer?  There should be some science behind this answer instead of opinion.  If anybody has the scientific knowledge and know when ringworm is no longer contagios after treatment, please let me know!  Thanks
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Anonymous
Anonymous commented
And although ringworm is contagious, your child doesn't usually have to stay home from school or daycare while he is being treated for ringworm. If you want to be extra careful that he doesn't infect anyone else, you could cover the ringworm for the first 48 hours of treatment, since it does usually require direct contact to spread the infection. After 48 hours, a ringworm is usually not contagious anymore.
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Anonymous answered
So which is it after it dries up or days after it been treated?
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Anonymous answered
I work in a heated pool how long should children be kept out of the pool if they have ring worms?
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Anonymous answered
So, if you've started to treat the ringworm, can someone else be infected by it just be touching an area of skin that does not have a ring on it???
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Anonymous answered
If ring worm is covered, are they still contgious, I have two children, started med. Covered with gauze and long sleeve shirt.
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Anonymous answered
Okay so ive heard that if you put bleach on ringworm it will go away? Well ive done that and now my question is how long does it take before its gone?
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Anonymous answered
Just want to say that Ring worm is not a worm! It is just a fungal infection on the skin, the same as athlete's foot/tinea!
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dj answered
I agree with you I would love to know a answer to this question too...and it seems like I have seen so many answer on the net that I am more confused now then I was to begin with..will be hoping you get a REAL answer from someone who knows for sure.  I am go to go ask a pharmacist today and will let you know what I find out...if nothing else plan on calling my doctor tomorrow to see what there advice is.
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dj
dj commented
After talking to two pharmacist...they both said that you are contagious until the ring worm lesion is completely gone...even with treatment. The one said there is no set time and all are different but usually 2-4 weeks. The other said it just depends on how each individual reacts to treatment. But that once the pink was gone that you shouldn't be contagious...until then to be careful. As for animals they didn't no if they followed the same rules....they assumed they would.
Kristi W
Kristi W commented
I learned in school while becoming a radiologist, that a ring worm is usually only contagious to other people until it dries up.(the worm is then dead and can not grow any longer) It takes a while for the area to go away, but once you dry up the worm it should no longer be conragious, but I guess everyone is different
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Anonymous answered
Kristi, I hope that you did not learn that the worm would be dead... Since ringworm is a fungus and not a worm at all. Most of the information that I have been able to find states that after 48 hours of treatment that it is no longer contagious.  HOWEVER, you should not rub/touch the area without it being treated, and you should continue to treat it for a week after the ring is gone. Above question, it appears that since its a fungus, the chemicals in the pool should kill it.

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