Ringworm Disease - The Facts
by juliet cohen
Ringworms" refers to fungal infections that are on the surface of the skin. Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. Ringworm can affect skin on your body (tinea corporis), scalp (tinea capitis), groin area (tinea cruris, also called jock itch), or feet. Ringworm is a skin and scalp disease caused by several different kinds of fungi. Ringworm on the scalp usually makes a bald patch of scaly skin. People with ringworm on other parts of their skin can have a ring-shaped rash that is reddish and may be itchy. The rash can be dry and scaly or wet and crusty. Ringworm is easily transmitted to humans. About 50% of people living with a ringworm-infected cat will develop the infection. Children and young animals are most susceptible to infections. Ringworm in animals usually appears as a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair. A 'cigarette ash' dandruff appears on the lesion and sometimes the patch has an inflamed margin. The infection is more common in young animals. In kittens, the patches usually occur on the head and feet. Ringworm of the body appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. The edge is reddish and may be either dry and scaly or moist and crusted.
The term ringworm is a misnomer. It has nothing to do with worms. It is a fungus, or more correctly, one of several fungi that can affect animals and humans. Today, many children, and pet owners get ringworm through direct or indirect contact with the infected hairs or skin of pets. Ringworm of the scalp usually begins as a small pimple which becomes larger in size and leaves scaly patches of temporary baldness. Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily. Occasionally, yellowish cuplike crusty areas are seen. With ringworm of the nails, the affected nails become thicker, discolored and brittle, or they become chalky and disintegrate. Ringworm of the body appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which makes them more common in skin folds such as those in the groin or between the toes. This also accounts for their reputation as being caught from showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. Topical shampoo therapy is used in almost every case, especially in longer haired pets. It is common to clip some or all of the hair in some pets to make it more effective. Specific anti fungal cremes are also used when a pet is infected in an area that already has sparse hair growth, or there are small, discrete lesions.
Ringworm Treatment Tips
1. Keep your skin clean and dry.
2. Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, lotions, or creams.
3. Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while infected.
4. Topical shampoo therapy is used in almost every case, especially in longer haired pets.
5. Do not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, combs, headgear, or other personal care items.
6. Wear sandals or shoes at gyms, lockers, and pools.
7. Avoid touching pets with bald spots.
8. Antifungal creams are readily available and may be efficient for small lesions.
About the Author
About the Author
Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and women health care. More information on health related topics visit our site at http://www.healthatoz.info.
source:www.goarticles.com
Quick and Easy Home Remedy for Ear Infection
By Amy B
What Causes An Ear Infection?
An ear infection is a common side effect of a cold, a sinus infection, and other problems. The small tube that connects the inner ear with the nose becoming blocked usually causes earaches. Moisture builds up in the ear, and pressure increases. Thus, we get an ear infection. There are a variety of options if you are looking for a home remedy for ear infection. Here are just a few of them.
Ways You Can Ward Off An Ear Infection
Many people consume zinc supplements to help act as a home remedy for ear infection, as well as other illnesses. A few drops of three percent hydrogen peroxide solution in each ear, sitting for about ten minutes, will help cure earaches caused by an ear infection.
Onions and garlic are known to have anti-bacterial properties. Warm onion juice can be used as an eardrop. You can also warm up two garlic cloves in a couple of teaspoons of mustard oil until the oil turns black. Once it is cool, this oil can then be used as a simple home remedy for ear infection.
Use Some Oil
If the ear is simply irritated, you may be able to soothe it by applying a few drops of olive oil. Likewise, mustard oil, applied daily, can help to reduce your chances of getting an ear infection or at least speed the healing up if you already have one.
You can put together two drops of lavender oil, two of chamomile oil, and three drops of tea tree oil in an almond oil solution. Use this mixture, slightly warmed up, as an eardrop three times a day. Chamomile is also known to sooth inflammation, and tea tree oil has well documented anti-microbial properties.
Heat Things Up
Holding a warm, wet cloth to the ear will improve circulation in the ear, and help remove wax that is creating a blockage.
Applying heat to an earache can usually reduce the pain. Heating pads and electric blankets can be a useful home remedy for ear infection. Remember never to put anything into your ear to try to remove a blockage. You could injure your ear, or push blockages in further.
Other home remedy for ear infection suggestions include eardrops made from mashed, peeled turmeric root in water, or a one to one ratio of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Turmeric has traditional uses as a natural antibiotic, so it's a good choice for an ear wash.
In the other home remedy, the alcohol's drying action will reduce the moisture in the ear canal, and vinegar's cleaning action can kill fungi or bacteria infecting the ear.
You are invited to discover the secrets to more simple yet effective home remedies for any condition at the Herbal Home Remedy website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_B
