Ringworm of the Scalp

Home care

Follow these guidelines when caring for yourself at home:

• It may take up to 12 weeks for the infection to fully clear. To stop it from coming back, keep taking the medicine until the rash is gone and your healthcare provider has told you to stop. Throw out any combs, hairbrushes, barrettes, hats, or other products that have touched your head. Or you can disinfect these items by soaking them in diluted chlorine bleach. (Use 1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water). Clean towels, pillowcases, sheets, and other linens or clothing each time they may have touched the infected area. Wash them in hot water with a strong detergent. Dry them on high heat. Use a different towel to dry your head. Don’t use this towel on the rest of your body.

• Ringworm of the scalp is very contagious. This means it spreads easily to other people. Other family members may need to be treated. Don't share hats, combs, hairbrushes, towels, pillowcases, or helmets while infected. Any child with ringworm of the scalp should stay out of school or day care until prescription medicine is started, or until the healthcare provider says it's OK to return. Your child shouldn't play contact sports until the provider says it's OK.

• Shampooing with an over-the-counter medicated shampoo will help keep the ringworm from spreading. It may lessen the chance of spreading it to other people. But it won't cure the ringworm by itself.

• You don't need to cut or shave the hair. This won't help.

• Have your veterinarian check your pet for signs of ringworm.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.

When to get medical care

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

• Ringworm comes back

• Scalp swelling or pain get worse

• Fluid or pus drains from the rash

• Fever in adults: 100.4°F (38°C) or above, lasting for 24 to 48 hours

• Fever in a child (see "Fever and children" below)

Fever and children

Use a digital thermometer to check your child’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are different kinds and uses of digital thermometers. They include:

• Rectal. For children younger than 3 years old, a rectal temperature is the most accurate.

• Forehead (temporal). This works for children age 3 months and older. If a child under 3 months old has signs of illness, this can be used for a first pass. The provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.

• Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are accurate after 6 months of age, but not before.

• Armpit (axillary). This is the least reliable but may be used for a first pass to check a child of any age with signs of illness. The provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.

• Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until they are at least 4 years old.

Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use. Insert it gently. Label it and make sure it’s not used in the mouth. It may pass on germs from the stool. If you don’t feel OK using a rectal thermometer, ask the healthcare provider what type to use instead. When you talk with any healthcare provider about your child’s fever, tell them which type you used.

Below are guidelines to know if your young child has a fever. Your child’s healthcare provider may give you different numbers for your child. Follow your provider’s specific instructions.

Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:

• First, ask your child’s healthcare provider how you should take the temperature.

• Rectal or forehead: 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

• Armpit: 99°F (37.2°C) or higher

Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):

• Rectal, forehead, or ear: 102°F (38.9°C) or higher

• Armpit: 101°F (38.3°C) or higher

Call the healthcare provider in these cases:

• Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age

• Fever of 100.4° (38°C) or higher in baby younger than 3 months

• Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under age 2

• Fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older