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Ringworm? Stethoscope at the doctor's practice responsible?

38 replies

Ano · 06/11/2022 21:19

Hello mummies,

Today while bathing my baby (5 months) I realized that what I thought to be skin irritation on his tummy after friction/ crawling a lot is likely a ringworm (see picture). I frantically googled about the causes and treatments. All sources mention that the cause is likely a contact with a person or animal with the infection or an object they've touched. Incubation time is said to be 4-10 days.

However, we haven't come into contact with anyone or any pets in the last 12 days (except the pediatrician, see below), being extremely busy with endless Zoom meetings (we're both doing home office). We didn't go out except for groceries (twice). As usual, I sprayed the groceries in the hall, cleaned them with antibacterial wipes, and washed fruits and veggies with warm soapy water (I know I might sound crazy to you, but that's not the point right now 😥). Even when we're only at home, we often wash our hands before touching the baby.

The only person we (the baby) came into contact with during this time is the pediatrician for a routine check-up. I've already written a post before that the pediatrician did not sterilize his hands before touching my baby, and I was afraid that his hands might be contaminated with germs/ virus/ bacteria from the door knob and/ or keyboard. I also didn't see him sterilize the stethoscope, and there is no way I could know if he/ the nurse had done it before we came in. Of course, my baby was checked with the stethoscope, and it was exactly there that the ringworm appears. I highly suspects that my baby contracted the ringworm at the doctor's practice 😭.

AIBU?

For now, I'm putting Multilind, an anti-fungal cream that I got when my baby was a newborn and got a nappy rash (quickly cleared up). Any suggestion to get rid of ringworm fast?

And how can I tell the pediatrician next time to sterilize his hands and stethoscope before touching my baby without offending him/ being told to look for another pediatrician?

Thank you!

Ringworm? Stethoscope at the doctor's practice responsible?
OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 06/11/2022 21:23

Surely it would be in other places too?

HerculesMulligan · 06/11/2022 21:24

My child had a rash like that and it wasn’t ringworm (I thought it was too). It was just a type of post viral rash after a cold we’d barely noticed him have. Don’t worry, or self diagnose, call your GP and ask for their view.

DarlingDarwin · 06/11/2022 21:26

I think there are a few issues here that maybe you need to discuss with an adult doctor. Are you okay?

user568720164728553401928574738 · 06/11/2022 21:27

Not ringworm, it's a type of fungal infection. Not contagious either so it won't spread to you or anyone else. Times versicolour I think it's called.

Canestan cream will take that away but because of your babies age, consult the GP before you start any treatment .

AnyFucker · 06/11/2022 21:28

Oh dear

olympicsrock · 06/11/2022 21:29

I don’t think this is ringworm.
With kindness you are clearly huge anxious about infections.
Perhaps give the doctor a call to discuss your concern about the rash but please have an open mind as to what it is and what caused it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 06/11/2022 21:30

I'm guessing the OP is in the US as she has a paediatrician and spells it the American way so probably doesn't have a GP in the same way as the UK. I would have thought it unlikely to have been caught from a stethoscope but in her position would start by going to the paediatrician and asking for advice as to what it is rather than making immediate accusations based on an Internet search.

MichelleScarn · 06/11/2022 21:30

As usual, I sprayed the groceries in the hall, cleaned them with antibacterial wipes, and washed fruits and veggies with warm soapy water (I know I might sound crazy to you, but that's not the point right now 😥)

sorry but I think this will be a huge factor in how your thought process us going at present. Agree with above, speak to hv or gp about this.

Reassemble · 06/11/2022 21:31

I'm not sure it is ringworm - but if it is, it's not the end of the world. It's more annoying than anything.

Mangogogogo · 06/11/2022 21:32

All this washing is going to seriously affect your poor baby’s immune system :(

also that’s not ringworm

Reassemble · 06/11/2022 21:32

Also - kindly - your baby might be more likely to contact dermatitis / asthma type allergies from overuse of antibacterials than ringworm - which isn't really a huge issue anyway.

TomTraubertsBlues · 06/11/2022 21:35

DarlingDarwin · 06/11/2022 21:26

I think there are a few issues here that maybe you need to discuss with an adult doctor. Are you okay?

This. Am I understanding correctly that you haven't left the house with your child (except to get groceries) for 12 days?

And that you disinfect everything that enters the house?

User963 · 06/11/2022 21:35

Do either of you have athletes foot as that is the same fungus and can cause ringworm on other parts of the body?

Hugasauras · 06/11/2022 21:36

Oh dear, OP. It just looks like a small eczema patch or something. I think the biggest health risk at the moment is that you clearly have massive anxiety issues. Is this a new post-partum thing? Are you getting help for it? Are you using lots of antibacterial stuff and cleaning chemicals around your baby?

Tiredmum100 · 06/11/2022 21:37

Funnily enough op I had the same thing happen to my dc recently. We attended A&E, and a few days later noted exactly the same circle on my child's back as your photo. The only thing I could think of was the stethoscope used by the doctor as the red area was in that exact area. I took him to the pharmacy and got some antifungal cream as thought it could be ring worm, it took about 2/3 weeks to go but its gone completely now.

EmmaDishwater · 06/11/2022 21:38

Could be discoid eczema. Hard to tell from the photo but ringworm is more silvery imo (and ours came from sheep). Either way, neither are a big deal and of your baby is well then this is a minor issue that will be easily sorted with the right treatment.

A) I wouldn't use a prescription cream for a rash it wasn't prescribed for

B) You clearly have a very unusual level of anxiety around cleaning/infections/health etc - this must be exhausting and miserable for you and will have an impact on your parenting and your child. I would seek help and support with this as well as the rash.

FallingLeaves1111 · 06/11/2022 21:38

It could well be a skin condition like eczema.

FallingLeaves1111 · 06/11/2022 21:39

Snap @EmmaDishwater

TomTraubertsBlues · 06/11/2022 21:41

Tiredmum100 · 06/11/2022 21:37

Funnily enough op I had the same thing happen to my dc recently. We attended A&E, and a few days later noted exactly the same circle on my child's back as your photo. The only thing I could think of was the stethoscope used by the doctor as the red area was in that exact area. I took him to the pharmacy and got some antifungal cream as thought it could be ring worm, it took about 2/3 weeks to go but its gone completely now.

A&E for ringworm?!

YellowTreeHouse · 06/11/2022 21:41

You are not doing your baby any favours by being so “clean”.

Babies need to be in contact with normal germs in order to build a healthy immune system.

By sanitising everything you are not allowing a healthy immune system to develop and so he will become very seriously ill over minor illnesses like colds in the future.

olca39 · 06/11/2022 21:41

OP sadly has a history of anxiety and such posts. You really need to speak to a mental health professional to get some support @Ano

pinkbag · 06/11/2022 21:41

Op I think your behaviour is more concerning than the rash on the baby’s tummy

TomTraubertsBlues · 06/11/2022 21:42

Hang on a minute - I've misunderstood. I assume the A&E was for something else.

hdoodle · 06/11/2022 21:44

Doctors first listen to the heart (usually in 3 places in adults, assume same in infants). Then the lungs. And then the abdomen. It’s a routine and I would never change the order even if someone was complaining of abdominal pain or problems breathing. So the stethoscope would have been on the left side of the chest in three places, on the back in at least 4 spots before moving to the abdomen. And that’s not the usual spot to listen to the bowels. I think it’s wildly unlikely to be due to the stethoscope.

ThreeblackCats · 06/11/2022 21:44

Retired pharmacist here, that is definitely not ringworm.