Ringworm – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
The word ringworm used for this disease does not correctly describe it. For, the disease is not caused by any worm but by a fungus which is very minute form of vegetable plant life that grows on the skin.
The disease is more annoying than dangerous. It is serious only when the skin break up due to scratching and this leads to secondary infection.
Symptoms
Ringworm infection occurs in the scalp, the body, the feet and the nails. Ringworm of the scalp is most common in children because of the lack of protective fatty acids in their scalps. These fatty acids are produced only in adult life and make the scalp of an adult person resistant to ringworm infection. The infection is more frequent in boys than in girls because boys have shorter hair and the scalp is relatively less protected.
The disease spreads on the skin and extends deeper into the hair roots and also up along the hair. The affected hair becomes dull and breaks off near its root. This leaves bald spots on the scalp which may assume a shabby appearance on account of the raised grey scales that protrude from the infected areas. The patches of ringworm of the body are usually round or oval, with raised pink and scaly rings, which show a clean space in the centre. The itching in the infected parts helps to spread infection through the nails to other healthy parts of the body. If it is not treated for a long time, the infection becomes chronic and is, then, difficult to get rid of.
Ringworm of the body commonly affects the face and the neck. Ringworm of the feet, also known as ‘athlete’s foot’ is more prevalent in summer. Infection is conveyed from one person to another through bath mats, bath tubs and swimming pools. The fungus, which causes the ringworm grow easily in the warm and moist parts of the body, thrives between the toes. It finds suitable place to live there on account of the perspiration in this region.
Causes
Ringworm is passed from an infected person to a healthy one by contact. It may also spread by use of articles such as towels of infected person. Sometimes, it is contracted from infected domestic animals, such as dogs and cats.
Treatment
The use of suppressive lotions or ointments for the treatment of ringworm may give temporary relief, but does not remove the cause. The best way to deal with this disease is to cleanse the blood stream and the body.
Fruit Diet
To begin with, the patient should be placed on an all-fruit diet for two or three days. He should take fresh juicy fruits, such as apple, orange, pineapple, papaya and pomegranate during this period. This will help eliminate morbid matter from the body and lead to substantial improvement.
Fruits, salt-free raw or steamed vegetables with whole wheat chappatis may be taken after the all-fruit diet. After a few days, curd and milk may be added to the diet. The patient may thereafter start with normal diet. The patient’s emphasis should be on whole grain cereals, raw or lightly-cooked vegetable and fresh fruits. This diet may be supplemented with vegetable oils, honey and yeast.
The patient should avoid tea, coffee, all condiments, highly flavoured dishes, as well as sugar, white flour products, denatured cereals and tinned or bottled foods.
Mustard Seeds
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of ringworm. One of the most effective of these is the use of mustard (raye) seeds. A paste made from these seeds should be applied externally over the areas affected with ringworm. The skin should be washed thoroughly with hot water, before application of this paste.
Papaya
The use of raw papaya has also been proved beneficial in the treatment of ringworm. A few slices of this unripe fruit should be rubbed on the ringworm patches, twice daily. A paste made from dry seeds of papaya can also be applied beneficially on these patches.
Castor Oil
The use of castor (arandi) oil, is valuable in case of ringworm on the head. This oil should be rubbed liberally on the affected parts. Noticeable improvement will be visible within two or three days.
Fruit Juices
Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice in combination with spinach juice, have proved beneficial in the treatment of ringworm. The formula proportions considered helpful in this combination are carrot juice 300 ml and spinach 200 ml to make 500 ml of combined juice.
The patient should get as much fresh air as possible. He should drink plenty of water and bathe twice daily. The skin, with the exception of part affected with ringworm, should be vigorously rubbed with the palms of the hands before taking a bath.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil may be applied to the portions with ringworm. It will help the skin to stay soft. Sunbathing is also beneficial and should be resorted to early in the morning, in the first light of dawn. A light mud pack applied over the sites of the ringworm is also helpful. The pack should be applied for half an hour twice daily.
