Ringworm in Children: Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Quick Answer

Ringworm, called daad in India, is a common fungal skin infection — despite the name, there is no worm involved. It usually shows up as a red, scaly, itchy, ring-shaped patch with a clearer middle and a raised border. It needs antifungal treatment, and the right cream or medicine should be decided by a doctor. The single most important warning for Indian parents: do not use over-the-counter combination creams that contain a steroid — they make ringworm worse and harder to treat. Alongside treatment, keep the area clean and dry, don’t share towels or combs, and always complete the full course even after the skin looks better.

What Is Ringworm?

Ringworm (medically called dermatophytosis) is an infection caused by a type of fungus that lives on the skin, hair and nails. It is not caused by a worm, even though the classic patch looks like a ring.

On the body it typically appears as a round or oval patch that is:

• red or pink and scaly
• itchy
• ring-shaped, with a raised, scaly border and a clearer centre

Ringworm can appear in different places, and the name sometimes changes with location:

• Body, arms, legs, face — the familiar ring-shaped patches
• Scalp — can cause scaly patches and hair loss or bald spots, and often needs stronger treatment
• Groin and skin folds — common in warm, sweaty areas
• Feet — between the toes, often called athlete’s foot

A child may have one patch or several, and the patches can slowly grow in size.

How It Spreads

Ringworm spreads very easily, which is why it often travels through families and classrooms. It can pass through:

• Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person
• Sharing items — towels, combs, hairbrushes, clothes, caps, bedding
• Pets and animals — cats, dogs and farm animals can carry it
• Warm, moist conditions — the fungus thrives in heat and sweat, which makes it very common in the Indian climate and during humid weather

Because it spreads so readily, it’s common for more than one family member to be affected at the same time.

Treatment — See a Doctor for Antifungals

Ringworm does not clear up on its own and needs antifungal treatment. The type depends on where and how severe the infection is:

• Skin patches are usually treated with an antifungal cream.
• Scalp ringworm and widespread infections usually need antifungal medicine taken by mouth, because creams alone cannot reach the fungus well enough.

The right medicine, strength and duration must be decided by a doctor after looking at your child’s skin. Please do not self-medicate or copy a treatment from a previous infection — using the wrong product can let the infection spread or come back.

One rule applies to every case: complete the full course your doctor prescribes, even after the patch fades and the itching stops. Stopping early is one of the main reasons ringworm comes back and becomes harder to treat.

Important — Avoid Steroid Combination Creams

This is a big problem in India. Many widely sold over-the-counter creams for daad are combination creams that contain a steroid. They can briefly reduce redness and itching, so they feel like they are working — but they actually make ringworm worse, help it spread over a larger area, and lead to stubborn infections that are very difficult to cure.

Please do not buy or apply these combination creams on your own, and do not continue an old tube from a chemist. Use only what your doctor prescribes for your child. If you are unsure whether a cream contains a steroid, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Hygiene & Home Measures

Good hygiene works alongside the medicine and helps stop the infection from spreading or returning:

• Keep the affected area clean and dry — fungus loves moisture.
• Don’t share towels, combs, brushes, caps, clothes or bedding.
• Wash clothes, towels and bedding in hot water and dry them well.
• Treat affected pets with help from a vet.
• Treat other infected family members at the same time, since it spreads within households.
• Keep skin folds dry, and dress your child in loose, breathable cotton.
• Keep your child’s nails short to reduce scratching and spreading the fungus to other areas.
• Encourage regular hand washing.

When to See a Doctor

Please consult a paediatrician or dermatologist for:

• Any suspected ringworm — to confirm the diagnosis and get the correct antifungal
• Scalp involvement or hair loss
• Large, spreading, or many patches
• No improvement, or worsening, despite treatment
• Signs of a bacterial infection — pus, increasing pain, or swelling
• Recurrent infections that keep coming back

Indian Context

Ringworm is extremely common in India, and a few local factors make it worse. The hot, humid climate and heavy sweating create ideal conditions for the fungus, especially during summer and the monsoon. Families often refer to it as daad-khaj-khujli, and it spreads easily through shared towels, clothes and bedding in busy households.

The biggest avoidable mistake is the misuse of over-the-counter steroid combination creams, which has fuelled a wave of stubborn, hard-to-treat ringworm across the country. The safest path is simple: see a doctor early, use only prescribed antifungals, and finish the full course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is ringworm actually caused by a worm?

A: No. Despite the name, ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. The name comes only from the ring-shaped patch it forms.

Q: Can I just use a cream from the chemist for my child’s daad?

A: It’s best not to. Many over-the-counter combination creams contain a steroid that worsens and spreads ringworm. Have your child examined and use only what a doctor prescribes.

Q: How long does treatment take?

A: It varies with the type and severity, and your doctor will set the duration. The key point is to complete the full course even after the skin looks normal, to prevent it from coming back.

Q: My child’s patch looks better after a few days — can I stop the medicine?

A: No. Stopping early is a common reason ringworm returns and becomes harder to treat. Finish the full course your doctor prescribed.

Q: Can ringworm spread to the rest of the family?

A: Yes. It spreads through contact and shared items, so treat affected family members and pets together, and avoid sharing towels, combs and clothes.

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This article is for general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Always consult your paediatrician or dermatologist.