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Original poster

Persistent fungal infection (ringworm) not clearing up for 3 months

27 replies

mamacoffee · 11/10/2013 16:43

Hi

Has anyone experienced this?

16mo DD got a fungal infection in mid July at about the same time as we started cat sitting over the summer. At first I thought it was exczema because my son has it but after a month I took her to the doctor and they diagnosed ringworm/fungal infection.

My understanding is this should clear within a couple of weeks of treatment, and the GP has now referred her to a dermatologist because of it not clearing up straight away. That appt is not until 1 November.

We've tried Hydrocortisone, Daktacort, Clotrimazole then back to Daktacort again for a week at the moment and then we are going to start Clotimazole again. Ive also applied Yakult, and right now am trying breastmilk (both alongside the creams). Oh and we're also using a shampoo haven't got the name to hand.

Its all over her legs and her back and arms (on her back and arms is not as bad) and it was on her tummy but thats cleared up. Basically only her face and head have not been affected :(

Has anyone experienced something similar and how did it clear up? How long did it take?

Also, I'm getting conflicting advice from teh GP and the pharmacist about whether it should be kept dry or not- GP was very concerned about the dry skin and said I should apply emollient cream 4 times a day, but pharmacist was saying that fungal infections thrive in moist environments which seems to contradict what GP was saying. Google seems to agree so Ive been trying to keep it dry and use oils instead to moisturise in between applying the creams.

Please help!

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 11/10/2013 16:57

could it be discoid eczema rather than ringworm?

Original poster
mamacoffee · 11/10/2013 17:56

thanks for your reply. i dont know what that is but 3 gps and my hubby who is a pharmacist (not the pharmacist i was talking about above lol) have all seen it and they all say fungal infection. of course they could still be wrong, but if it was eczema wouldn't the hydrocortisone have worked? as that works on ds' eczema when it is inflamed.

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 11/10/2013 20:13

From what I can see on the nhs website with discoid eczema the course of of treatment would be be similar with steroid creams. Those have helped but none of them have cured the the infection and it's still there :(

OP posts:
smaths · 11/10/2013 20:31

Long shot but have you changed washing powder or got a new water efficient washing machine recently? A couple of years ago I had a "fungal infection" for months with round welts all over my body that wouldn't shift with any steroid creams or anti fungal creams and it disappeared like magic when the massive box of daz my mother in law bought when she was house sitting ran out. Turned out I was allergic to it. (I ask about the machine as water efficient ones sometimes don't rinse the detergent out fully and can also provoke allergies)

Original poster
mamacoffee · 12/10/2013 18:00

Thank you for your reply smaths. We haven't done either but thanks for the suggestions.

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 09:05

Bumping for any other ideas

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 20/10/2013 09:11

Have you tried a antihistamine ? Maybe she's reacting to the creams and the fungal infection and it's an allergic reaction now too.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/10/2013 09:13

Have they checked for scabies?

3littlefrogs · 20/10/2013 09:26

Is she otherwise well?

Has the GP done any blood tests?

I am wondering if her immune system isn't working well for some reason.

QOD · 20/10/2013 09:39

I had/have this, started on top of one foot, spread to other and now dotted up my legs, 5 different GP treatments and referral to consultant dermatologist later and it's actually granuloma annulare

It's not nearly as bad as this wee child. I was told you tend to get it on legs or arms or face but not as much on trunk

www.nhs.uk/conditions/granuloma-annulare/Pages/Introduction.aspx

QOD · 20/10/2013 09:41

www.bad.org.uk/site/821/default.aspx

Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 11:55

Thanks for those links I will take a look.

No blood tests done yet maybe I'll go bacj to gp abd ask. Because the dermatologist appt is next Friday 1 nov so then the consultant could have those results to hand when assessing her.

She is well otherwise-but ever since she was a baby I have noticed her immune system isn't as strong as 3.6yo ds. I never knew what to make of it other than that if they both get a cold ds wikk recover quicker than she will in in general.

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 13:05

Thanks for the antihistamine idea too I will look into that.

OP posts:
QOD · 20/10/2013 13:17

Aha, now granuloma annulare is linked to poor immune system, hypothyroidism, diabetes etc etc so that could be it?
Practice nurse and two GPs were adamant it was fungal, ringworm based etc over the 8 months and 5 visits ...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granuloma_annulare

Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 20:17

Thanks qod for those links. The pics look different but the description does really ring some bells esp the thing about it not not responding much to steroid creams and also about it not itching in contrast to to ringworm-dd is not itchy much at all from it. Is this something gps don't know much about? Is that why they haven't considered it?

Also silly question but can you go go swimming with it? Atm we've stopped taking dd dd swimming and she's not so so fussed but I'm missing swimming desperately! (Logistics of leaving her to go on my own are a bit tricky)

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 20:20

giles how can they tell if antihistamine is needed? Is there a test they can do? Just wondering what to ask for to make sure this is checked

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 20/10/2013 20:26

I don't think its scabies bc the nhs website said that's associated with intense itchiness and dd isn't really itchyb at all.

OP posts:
QOD · 20/10/2013 20:36

I feel no pain at all, just discolouration and bumps, totally not contagious in any way as it's am internal thing really.
Fairly rare I believe .. Mine doesn't really look like the links as I guess they are extreme cases

I just took a photo of my foot and will upload it Grin

QOD · 20/10/2013 20:39

ThanksBiscuitBrewWinehow do I add a photo?

QOD · 20/10/2013 20:44

It's on my profile, oh get me, just added the app to my ipad

Original poster
mamacoffee · 21/10/2013 14:59

Wow that's clever of you Grin The pic looks not dissimilar to dds rings. The other pics looked and were described as having lots of nodules a well as rings and dd doesn't have that. But your pic looks a bit bit closer to dd. I guess the the dermatologist will be able to diagnose.it's good to know there are other possibilities anyway. Thank you for your help!

OP posts:
QOD · 21/10/2013 20:38

I stressed about it so much worrying about being contagious and it isn't

Fingers crossed its nothing for her too

Original poster
mamacoffee · 23/10/2013 20:32

Thanks for all your help qod. I am counting the days til the appt and hopefully we can get some answers. ..

OP posts:
Original poster
mamacoffee · 01/11/2013 20:42

just thought id update for anyone interested :)

we had the dermatologist appointment today and he said its discoid eczema. the first thing that was suggested on this thread ilovepowerhoop lol- thank you! apparently its a pretty bad case at the moment, and that's why the steroid creams and moisturising creams weren't working- none of them are strong enough.

although her legs are pretty bad at the moment, its good to know that now we can give the appropriate treatment to hopefully get us on the path to recovery.

thanks everyone for your help and thanks QOD for all your advice especially.

OP posts:
ilovepowerhoop · 01/11/2013 23:51

woo hoo, glad you have a diagnosis and that you can now get the correct treatment