Where There Is No Doctor 2011 205
FUNGUS INFECTIONS (RINGWORM, TINEA)
Fungus infections may appear on any part of the body, but occur most
frequently on:
the scalp
(tinea)
the parts without
hair (ringworm)
between the
toes or fingers
(athlete’s foot)
between the legs
(jock itch)
Most fungus infections grow in the form of a ring. They often itch. Ringworm of
the head can produce round patches with scales and loss of hair. Finger and toe
nails infected with the fungus become rough and thick.
Treatment:
♦ Soap and water. Washing the infected part every day with soap and water
may be all that is needed.
♦ Do your best to keep the affected areas dry and exposed to the air or
sunlight. Change underwear or socks often, especially when sweaty.
♦ Use a cream of sulfur and lard (1 part sulfur to 10 parts lard).
♦ Creams and powders with salicylic or undecylenic acid, or tolnaftate
(Tinactin, p. 371) help cure the fungus between the fingers, toes and groin.
♦ For severe tinea of the scalp, or any fungus infection that is widespread
or does not get better with the above treatments, take griseofulvin, 1 gram
a day for adults and half a gram a day for children (p. 371). It may be
necessary to keep taking it for weeks or even
months to completely control the infection.
But pregnant women should not
take griseofulvin.
♦ Many tineas of the scalp clear up
when a child reaches puberty
(11 to 14 years old). Severe
infections forming large swollen
patches with pus should be
treated with compresses of warm
water (p. 195). It is important to pull
out all of the hair from the infected
part. Use griseofulvin, if possible.