Not sure if you remember me talking about ringworm going around my children's school. Anyhow I have been getting letters sent home for almost 2 years now. My daughter has it I was called from work to come and get her and I told them I was treating it, but because I did not take her to the doctors they made her leave said the stuff I was using wasn't good enough. The doctor said the suff is good enough and she doesn't know why they sent her home. Now I have printed stuff out on how to prevent it, how to properly clean for it ect off the net and my children took all this to school. Now I not only lost a days pay and had to go to the doctors it was all a waste of time. I asked the doctor what can be done because this has been going around this school for almost 2 years, I even told the school that they obviously have not cleaned properly if children are still getting ringworm....I'm just itchy all over just thinking about it. The doctor is going to call and see what can be done and get back to me, I told her that I also talked to the health nurse about this about a year ago and they still have it something is wrong.

Now am I being pariniod? I have a family of 4 and 13 animals to worry about and if they get it its not like they are going to foot the bill to clean them all up. What else can I do, or is there anything else that could be done?

Thanks for any help :)

My sons have had two sore patches each, about the size of a 20p piece for several months now.  I took them to the GP together and he diagnosed ringworm.  Cream has been dutifully applied twice daily for about 5 weeks and it isn't improving much although does appear to come and go at times.  Neither my daughter or myself have had a problem and in the early stages before we had confirmation what it was, we did the sharing towels and beds thing without a care in the world.

My GP tells me it is a fungal infection and not really anything to worry about although needs to be treated persistently for it to go away and the cream needs to be applied long after visible signs have gone.  I am a little unsure what cleaning techniques you refer to, over and above the normal hygiene precautions.  This is probably the reason why it has been in school for two years, I must admit I hadn't even considered notifying the school.

I wouldn't worry about it if I was you.  Use the cream from the GP because there is a new one out that is so much better than Clotrimazole.

I'm in Canada Saskatchewan..thats awful the poor little one..Did they not do a black light on it? It shows up green, pretty weird....I do hope he gets better, that must be really sore :(

I think they could at least bleach down the desks to make sure they are disenfected and maybe wash down floors and walls with bleach as well, and also clean out the ducts. I was just told that just before easter the grades 1, 7 and 8 had it not sure how many children they don't tell you that. She said that you can never truely get rid of it, well ya if they properly cleaned the school and maybe shone a black light it would show up. Since that is how they knew my daughter had it, now just need a black light to check my animals in hopes they don't have it. I was told to use a clean towel and to change her pillow case everyday, so lots of laundry. I told my daughter that she must wash before and after touching any animal, and if she touches the side of her face at all she must wash then to. its only on the side of her face so far as we can see, a big red circle. It hasn't flaked at all and I know thats how it starts to spread is by flakes falling off. She principle tried to tell me not much different then headlice and chicken pox, ya it is at least that is easier to clear up and doesn't spread like this fungus....have had both and I'll tell ya much rather have those 2 then this fungus....

I was told if this fungus doesn't start to clear up after 2 weeks I'm suppose to bring her back and they will give her an oral medication to take, so fingers crossed that this works.

Not having a good day at all :(

Can I ask what part of the country you are in?

Friends of mine in London have a young son who currently has a terrible ringworm problem on his scalp.  The problem has got really bad because the GP failed to diagnose it for weeks- it has ended up as a huge enlarged weeping sore and his hair is falling out.

We are in Gloucestershire.  Both boys have nothing more than two small patches of eczema like soreness, nothing too problematic although slightly irritating.  It wasn't diagnosed by black light or anything so elaborate, more by visual diagnosis helped by both of them being in the surgery together.  We don't share towels now and I do change the beds regularly although certainly not every day, I am keeping things in proportion to the two small patches they have which haven't spread at all in the past few weeks.

Ringworm isn't that bad :D - I had it recently...kinda proud of my little fungus :D...Apparently it's very easy to catch, I'm always hanging around stables and assume I picked it up from there?  The cream I used took a while but I was warned of that by my GP, a veterinary nurse friend of mine reckons cats are buggers for passing on ringworm??  Anyway my dog didn't catch it from me and neither did the OH!!!!  I think it has avery unfortunate name that gives a dirty impression but I wouldn't worry about too much!
Sarah

Hi

We have a wierd case.  one dog (living at mother's) has had a skin problem over her face for nearly 6 months now.  Itchy, crusty grey muck all over her muzzle and around her eyes.
After several different diagnoses(sp?) and different treatments - nothing was helping, and the problem wasn't responding to anything.  Finally the vet did a biopsy and came up with ringworm (which had previously been dismissed - by two seperate vets).  Now two weeks into the latest treatment and it is responding well.
However, she has been mixing with other dogs, including all of mine at Christmas, and no-one has caught it off her, neither man nor beast.  So I figure some forms of ringworm might not be as infectious as others...

I believe it also depends on your amune system

Glad to hear she is clearing up :)

My daughter seems to be getting a little better too. She washes it twice a day and puts that stuff on it 3 times a day....So far so good....We are thinking now that she may of got it from the peace uniform at school cause they don't wash them so she no longer wears them and they are going to make her a badge :)

Ok maybe I'm just being over pariniod :( I'm a real worry wart :(
Don't you think that after almost 2 years that the school should be rid of the problem by now?
So far know one else in the house has signs but it can take about 7 days or so to show up, hoping the animals don't get it cause that will be alot of work....I was told it can take about 2 weeks before it starts to go away and well if it doesn't then they said an oral medication....Funny how my skin starts crawling when I even think about it, thats terrible....

Just a thought since it has been in the school for awhile could the fungus develop an amunity to the cream, you know kinda like a bacteria does? I know I'm probably just being funny now and I have lost my marbles but these are the things I start thinking about :(

I don't think the fungus develops an immunity but it buries down rather than spreads out.  How long it takes to go is apparently indicative of how deep down it has gone rather than how wide it has spread.

I wouldn't worry, I am sure ringworm is as much a part of childhood and school as it nits, worms and other nasties!

I am sure the animals won't catch it from your children!  Relax and it will all be fine :-)

Crikey, if I had 14 animals Id be worried about ringworm too! The school could do more, such as information for parents and cleaning properly, but doubt it will unless a teacher gets it - do they get Black Lit every day too? It really annoys me that schools always phone MUM if a kid is ill, never Dad. For my kids phoning Dad is a quicker way home as he has a car and is always in the same place while I can be anywhere, yet the schools always phone me. Sexism is alive and well in the school community where most of the women are working Mums themselves -grrr!

So when can your little girl go back to school?

Its the school that is the problem they are not cleaning properly cause if they were don't think children would be getting it :(

My daughter is going back tomorrow cause I have been treating it :)

They were going to call my hubby but my daughter told them to call mom instead because dad can't get away from the mill if he is milling. Either way I still would of had to pick her up because I make less and it's easier for me to get away from my job then him. I know sad, it is always mom, I told her they should of let them call her dad maybe he would of gave them his two cents. They don't like talking to me cause I don't put up with any of their crap. I'm waiting and hoping one of the teachers get it, thats bad but maybe that is what it will take. My daughter just told me that they won't allow them to play gym and if they are on the computer they have to wear gloves, I flipped its only on her face by her ear. I told her if that happens she is too call me. It doesn't look that bad, not scaley or bubbly at all just a red round ring sorta, but it did shine green with the black light at the doctors I thought that was neat. She said with the light she could just barely see some flakes so its not to bad and to apply the cream twice a day. My daughter puts it on in the morning and after a bath and again before bed can't see 3 times a day hearting it, just wanna make sure it always has cream on it. She's really good about it and keeping washed and not touching it :) Hopefully it will be gone in 2 weeks one will hope, if so I'll still apply it for a 2 weeks after just to make sure.

Just bugged me cause she got it from the school and they have the nerve to send her home even though I told them I was treating it. just a big waste of time, but maybe not cause I voiced my concerns to the doctor that this has been ongoing at the school for almost 2 years with children getting it and she is going to check things out. My girlfriend had it and they know longer have it after cleaning and treating cats and children plus herself, she has 4 cats with a litter on the way and its all gone so whats the matter with this school.

I will get down now and will stop being so pariniod. Have to admit after reading the posts I do feel a little better.
Thank you :)

It would not be possible to clean the school thoroughly enough if there are still children there every day who have ringworm currently.  However well you clean re-"contamination" will occur.  Because it takes such a long time for treatment to be effective it isn't realistic for all affected children to be kept off classes.

Patience (and chill!) :-)

My son had it on his scalp when he was young but it cleared ok with cream ( when I rang the docs to say I suspected ringworm the stupid receptionist asked me to describe what the worms looked like!!!) 

A couple of years ago a friend of mine had it on her leg and the prescribed cream aggravated it so I told her to try Tea Tree diluted in Olive oil as they are both antifungal and it went within a week. :)  You can also put a drop or two of Tea Tree in when you wash bedding and towels and in the water for general cleaning if you're worried about it spreading (then suggest the school does the same ;) :D).  I use it along with Lavender oil, well diluted in water in a sprayer for the cows/dog/family if we have any skin problems at all as they both have antifungal and antibacterial properties. :)

Kath.

Kath you beat me to it :D

I was going to suggest Tea Tree oil too - its marvellous for fungal infections :D

To help dilute it in water (emulsify) for washing down and spraying areas I always add some strong Vodka or other white alcohol, it helps to break down the molecules.  All it takes after that is a good shake and it'll work a treat :D

Tea Tree, Lavender and Lemon oils - I wouldn't be without them :)

Brilliant idea, why didn't I think of that before!  Will certainly give it a go.  Thanks :-)

Thank you every one for your concern, idea's and replies :)