Home Health Guide

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 266, 8 November 1941, Page 4

Home Health Guide

NO. 17: BODY RINGWORM (Prepared and issued by the Health Department.) An application of tincture of iodine night and morning will clear up that troublesome and unsigntly body ringworm. This is one of the simple manifestations of the disease, but it has to be dealt with promptly and properly, becauso of the extraordinary rapidity with which it spreads. Animals are the main source of ringworm in New Zealand, particularly tnose that are usually round the house —dogs, cats, and, on the farm, ponies and calves. On the outbreak of ringworm in a household, the domestic pets should be examined. The cause will probably be found without much searching, and the animal should bo treated. Clean pets will not cause ringworm. It is by fondling unclean pets that children contract it. - A child with body ringworm may go to school provided he is being treated. Bingworm is not causod by a germ, as many people believe. It is caused by a fungus growth. This fungus, like' all fungus, consists of microscopic cellular plants, which grow at a much lower temperature than most germs, and thrive particularly well at body temperature. It grows rapidly, is more resistant than the average germ, and is extremely contagious. A child with ringworm should have his own personal things: brush and comb, towel, and linen, etc., and, until free of it, should avoid direct contact with other members of the family and his playmates. An ordinary attack of body ringworm will succumb to tho iodine treatment without much trouble, but don’t forget that the fungus, which bites deep into the skin, will quickly get out of control even if the treatment is missed once.

Body ringworm is not hard to diagnose. * It first appears as a raised red patch, circular in shape. As the circle widens, it heals in the centre, leaving a live red ring of growing fungus. Scalp ringworm is the same in origin as body ringworm, but is more serious, and requires a little more drastic treatment. It will be dealt with in the next article.