In my last post I started writing about some of the "icky stuff" that often comes along with international adoption. Lice, scabies, ringworm and Giardia and conditions that are common in internationally adopted children and can cause big headaches in parents.

Having a basic knowledge of these conditions and their treatments can help adoptive parents be prepared for the creepy crawlies.

Ringworm - Ringworm, despite it's name, is not a parasite or a worm, it is a fungal infection. Ringworm of the scalp is also known as Tinea capitis, and it infects the skin and hair follices on the scalp. It generally looks like round, itchy lesions that are pink or red, have some oozing and cause round bald spots. Ringworm on the scalp can also look like a scaly rash or giant pimples.

Ringworm on the skin is also known as tinea corporis, and it often looks like round, red, oozing and itchy lesions that start small, and increase in diameter in "rings". It can also look flaky and have small blisters or pimples. Sometimes in black children, ringworm does not look like it typically does in light-skinned children, which can make it difficult for unexperienced doctors to diagnose and treat.

Ringworm is spread through direct contact or sharing infected items. It is easily spread from one part of the body to others from scratching. Since it is highly contagious, many schools and daycare centers will not allow infected children to attend until treatment has been started and they have a letter from a doctor saying that they are no longer contagious.

Many an adoptive parent has found that ringworm can be a real pain to get rid of.

Antifungal creams, such as Lotrimin, are often effective on skin lesions, but need to be applied diligently several times a day up until a week after the lesions have cleared, and it often takes six to eight weeks or longer for the lesions to completely clear up. The bald spots caused by scalp ringworm can take months to totally clear up and in rare cases become permanent.

Once the ringworm gets into the hair follicles on the scalp, topical treatments are often not enough to get rid of it. Some doctors recommend using Selsun Blue or a similar shampoo along with the antifungal creams, but often times an oral antifungal is required to fully get rid of scalp ringworm. Griseofulvin in the oral antifungal that is often found to be the most effective.

*As always, this information is just a starting point, and you should consult with your doctor before treating your child.


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