Is ringworm contagious? Next to questions on ringworm treatment, this has been one of our most frequently asked questions, we decided to write a post to answer this conclusively.
Yes, ringworm is contagious. It can easily be transferred from an infected person or animal (pets, like dogs and cats) to another person through direct skin contact.
According to Medline Plus, public health information service jointly hosted by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health:
From the UK National Health Services (NHS):
Better Health, a public service channel by the state government of Victoria, Australia, has this to say:
Is ringworm contagious? Yes, but the infection can be easily prevented by observing basic hygiene and avoiding skin contact with infected persons or pets. Please see Ringworm Prevention for more information. Ideally, ringworm treatment should be initiated as soon as the symptoms are observed and identified properly.
Yes, ringworm is contagious. It can easily be transferred from an infected person or animal (pets, like dogs and cats) to another person through direct skin contact.
According to Medline Plus, public health information service jointly hosted by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health:
"Ringworm is contagious. It can be passed from one person to the next by direct skin-to-skin contact or by contact with contaminated items such as combs, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. You can also catch ringworm from pets that carry the fungus. Cats are common carriers."Pets infected with ringworm may or may not exhibit the typical symptoms of ringworm (patches of missing fur, etc.). If you suspect your pet as a source of infection, it is advisable to have the pet treated too. Otherwise, you are likely to get infected repeatedly even after the initial outbreak has been successfully treated.
From the UK National Health Services (NHS):
"Ringworm is contagious, so it's important to take basic hygiene measures in order to prevent the spread of infection. These include not sharing towels or clothes. See the prevention section for more details about this."Personal items like combs, towels, hats, etc. can be carriers of fungal spores. It's best to keep these items always as clean as possible and to avoid sharing these items with other persons.
Better Health, a public service channel by the state government of Victoria, Australia, has this to say:
"Tinea is a highly contagious fungal infection that can infect the skin. The most commonly affected areas include the feet, groin, scalp and beneath the breasts. Tinea can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through towels, clothes or even floors. Tinea is also known as ringworm, which is a misleading name since no worm is involved."Ringworm, in most cases, is often itchy. Avoid scratching the infected surface. The fungi can cling to your hands and be transferred to other parts of your body or to other persons with whom you come in contact with.
Is ringworm contagious? Yes, but the infection can be easily prevented by observing basic hygiene and avoiding skin contact with infected persons or pets. Please see Ringworm Prevention for more information. Ideally, ringworm treatment should be initiated as soon as the symptoms are observed and identified properly.
Related Posts:
Ringworm Treatment (Main article)
Welcome to the Ringworm Treatment Center (an overview)
Treating Ringworm in Children
Ringworm Risk Factors
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