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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

DS has ringworm :( I feel so dirty and ashamed.

30 replies

meto · 08/05/2007 10:48

how the hell did he get it? DH apparently has the same spots on his legs, I really feel totally embaressed and dirty about it all. esp as I took him to the coffee morning this am - was there literally for 5 mins and left after a chorus of 'it's highly contagious' from other mums

he's got cream but what else should I do - I assume I have to biol is bedding/clothes etc?

I really feel so dirty - and I keep a clean/tidy house as well.

OP posts:

Report

PenelopePitstops · 08/05/2007 10:50

dont feel dirty, he could have got it from anywhere, probably outside the house.

Dont have any real advice but dont worry he will cope, did the doctor tell you to do anytthing with bedlinen etc?

meto · 08/05/2007 10:51

no nothing jsut gave me some cream for him. the dr said he's fine to play with other children as it's only contagious when it's not covered up/he's hugging etc. how could I not have known what it was?

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tarantula · 08/05/2007 10:55

There is nothing dirty about ringworm. Its just one of those things kids pick up (and adults too sometimes). I had it a few times as a kid and so did lots of others. the doc is right it is not contagious if covered and the other mums are just panicing unduly.

squidette · 08/05/2007 10:56

Ringworm is not a worm, its a type of fungal infection that is not life-threatening, dirty, AWFUL or reflective of you as a bad parent!

Its part of the same family of fungus as athelete's foot and can be really itchy and sore. My eldest had it when he was about 4ish, i caught it and it cleared up really quickly with Daktarin.

Sorry you are feeling so because of the other mums reactions.

Idreamofdaleks · 08/05/2007 10:59

Either dp or ds could have got it from climbing a fence where cattle are kept.

So nothing to do with how clean or not your house might be! It is contagious so they are correct about that.

DarrellRivers · 08/05/2007 11:01

It's a fungal infection like athlete's feet.
All children get them, no reflection on you.
Hold your head high

frogs · 08/05/2007 11:03

Cheer up, once he goes to school he's bound to get far more unpleasant visitors -- threadworms, anyone? Headlice? And all the other smug mums' children will get them too, pests aren't fussy.

GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 08/05/2007 11:04

I caught ringworm from a horse once. I am not dirty - my house is clean and would never go to bed without showering. Ringworm is not caused by dirt, it is a contagious fungal infection easily transferred to bare skin from animals to humans.
The other mums need to go home and read up on it. I never fail to be amazed by how people can get into such a frenzy about catching something. So what? You catch it, you clear it up and your immune system is all the stronger.

JARM · 08/05/2007 11:05

Dont panic babe, he will be fine.

Just wash his bedclothes and day clothes after each wear.

Keep him covered and go and enjoy yourself!

You are a FAB mum and its not a reflection on hygiene.

CHILL! xxx

MellowMa · 08/05/2007 11:08

Message withdrawn

meto · 08/05/2007 11:08

I wash his day clothes/bed clothes after the first wash anyhow.

just noticed one of the dogs has something which looks rather similar. - we took the dogs out on fri to a differnt park/wooded area without DS - could the dog have got it from there? I feel so bad for not even noticing on theh dog (have to rearrnage some stuff and take him to the vets as well to get it sorted out - althou if one dog has it surely the ohter will as well?)

OP posts:

meto · 08/05/2007 11:09

still feel awful, but thianks for cheering me up - off to closely inspect the dogs.

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MellowMa · 08/05/2007 11:13

Message withdrawn

meto · 08/05/2007 11:16

just noticed a 'bug' berried on dog I feel sick, i'm so finaky with them.

OP posts:

MellowMa · 08/05/2007 11:17

Message withdrawn

meto · 08/05/2007 11:24

it's a tick - are ticks/ringworm all related? vet's at 3.

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purplemonkeydishwasher · 08/05/2007 11:25

DH had it quite badly last year. he started getting it again this year but caught it and started tratment immediately. will it be a yearly thing now?

shonaspurtle · 08/05/2007 11:31

Dh has had this a couple of times presumably from his pals at the football. I've never caught it for some reason and it's always cleared up quickly with anti-fungal cream.

Daisybump · 08/05/2007 11:38

I might have been the tivk that passed the ringworm to the dog who's passed it to your DC. Agree with other posts...it's a fungal infection and there is nothing dirty about it. I think people assume that its called ringworm becuase it's some sort of parasite like scabies. A friend of mine (and her dog) had it recently and it cleared up very quickly just using canesthen cream...on her and the dog too!

You can get a special tool for pulling ticks out, or pur tcp on top of them....they don;t like that very much and let go pretty quickly, but then you have to pick them up....eeeewwwww

meto · 08/05/2007 11:40

db - thanks for the tip on that - just spoken to DH and he's agreeing with me it's a trip to the vets, i'd rather the vet do it and get it all than risk me doing it and leaving some in there and it getting infected/costing us more in the long run.

caneston cream - we have some of that will remember that one. (think the vet will give us one of those flea/tick liquid things)

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SuGaRCoAteDPoiSOn · 08/05/2007 11:41

my kids had this when they were little and initally I was as horrified as you but we'd just been on holiday to italy and my family over there own a farm.. the kids had a field day petting all the animals and caught it from one of them.

don't worry, as someone else said.. daktarin will clear it up quite quickly but it is contagious so wash all their stuff separately and use a different towel etc for them til it's gone

hope that helps, even a little bit

daisybump · 08/05/2007 14:58

Meto...you can get drops for the back of the dogs neck that protects against fleas and ticks...just ask the vet....worth it if you don'twant to have anything more to do with the wriggly little things.......

I do a lot of hillwalking and have had ticks in my own leg....horrible nasty little bloodsucking beggars

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meto · 08/05/2007 15:41

just back now dog's fine had a jab/got some stuff, he deffo hasn't got riingworm, vet says that dogs rarely get it, and it's even less common they pass it over to humans s that's a relief - still have no idea where DS got it from - perhaps DH when DH was away? (DH has had it longer than DS)

either way my purse is now £50 lighter but at least everyone's covered. incidently if DS did get it from DH why didn't i as I share a bed with DH?

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Blandmum · 08/05/2007 15:44

Dot feel dirty! It is just caused by a funcus (rather like the one that causes athletes foot).

Please, honesely it can happen to anyone!

It isn't a worm. And actually, even the cleanest of people can get worms Personal experince

Blandmum · 08/05/2007 15:44

don't feel dirty!!! sheesh! Typo city!

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