RINGWORM - MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

Article prepared by:
Scott Fretzin MD, Indiana University 1001 W. 10th St., RG-524, Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 630-7064, 1997

RINGWORM

Ringworm (medically known as "tinea corporis") is a fungus infection of the skin. The fungus can infect many parts of the body, but the most common are the feet (tinea pedis —athlete's foot), the scalp (tinea capitis), and the body itself. Most often the skin will have an itchy red patch which is in the shape of a ring. There is usually white scale on top of the red patch. The size can vary from very small to large enough to cover most of the human body. A person may develop one patch or many at the same time.

Although ringworm is contagious, it takes vigorous contact to transfer the fungus. It is also important to know that not everyone is susceptible to contract ringworm. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who is susceptible and who is resistant. Ringworm is transferred from human to human or from animals (dog/cat) to human. The fungus can also grow on the ground and on mats and can be transferred by hard physical contact. Ringworm can be prevented by ensuring that the mats are cleaned with soap and water and by physically covering the ringworm with a bandage.

There are many medicines to treat ringworm Topically applied creams usually work well. These include products such as clotrimazole cream or Desenex. They can be bought over the counter and if used twice a day, the lesion should resolve within several weeks. There are also stronger prescription products (ketoconazole cream and others) which may work on some difficult-to-treat infections. Rarely, an oral medicine is needed. Several types of pills can be taken which will eliminate the fungus.

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM

Molluscum contagiosum is an infection caused by a virus. The virus enters the skin and causes a bump to appear. The lesions are usually discreet 2 to 4 millimeter red or flesh-colored papules. They are much more common in adolescents or children than in adults. They are usually located on the face or arms, but can be anywhere on the body.

Like ringworm it takes vigorous contact to transfer molluscum but they are definitely contagious. Very often people can accidentally spread their lesions by scratching them. They are only transferred from human to human, and the virus does not live anywhere except in human skin. They can be completely protected from spread by simply covering them with a bandage. Treatment of molluscum contagiosum is difficult. Although many will go away without any treatment, it can take 6 to 12 months for this to occur. Most lesions have to be physically destroyed by either a minor surgical procedure or by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Even after treatment, many lesions will reoccur and need to be treated again.

Since both skin conditions are contagious, any infected areas must be well-covered before wrestling. If a specific lesion is too large to be safely covered with a proper bandage, then wrestling is not permitted. Likewise, if one person has numerous infected areas it may be difficult to contain them all and again wrestling would not be allowed. Most of the time, however, proper dressing can be applied and wrestling can proceed.

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