Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-01-19
KEALT FULLY
YOURS
By Robert a. VogeI M. ..
Health Commissioner
Modiscn County
RINewoRM OF THE SCALP

For several months now there
has been quite bit of rinaworm
of the scalp among our school
children both in London schools
and few cases in the county
schools. At the present time the
incidence Is on the increase. All
known cases have been treated by
the local doctors and the children
have been examined at school by
the health department nurses.
Ringworrn of the scalp is an in
fection of the hair by various
fungi Infection of the skin and
nails may occur simultaneously
Fungus infection of the skin, nails,
and hair are common, and are
at times serious. "The Human
Type" of ringworm occurs only in
man and is contracted only from
other infected persons. 1t occurs
in children, most frequently boys
between the ages of Z and II, and
rarely in adults. 1t usually pro-
duces noninflammatory type of
lesion and can be very difficult to
cure since it tends to keep coming
back after treatment seems to be
complete. The infected scalp shows
small, rounded, scaly patches, or
a small red lesion. The sore is
Redeemed but the scales are whitish
in color, the hair in the sore be-
comes dry, lusterless and brittle
and easily falls out. Itching may
be present. The fungi feed on ma
terial in the scalp and hair. The
patches are of varying sizes and
may become as large as fifty-cent
pieces or larger.
The disease is spread by infect
ed hair to a clean scalp by:
l. articles of clothing, common
combs, brushes, caps, hats and
mufflers;
2. BARRIERS ana their instru-
ments.
3. Seat backs in public convey
ances, movies, etc. Children should
be made conscious of protecting
themselves by such common pro-
cedures as putting their coat over
the back of seat in a public place
and by having their own personal
articles such as comb, brush, etc.
The diagnosis Of LESSONS can be
confirmed by inspection with a
wood light (an invisible ultraviolet
light which in the dark gives the
infected hair bright fluorescent
sheen.) The Health Department
has such light and has been us
ing this light in the schools to help
the local doctors pick out those
children with the infection so
that they may be properly treated
Exclusion from school is not
practical for much time is lost
in schooling and the infected child
can expose the uninfected else
where play ground, movies,
public conveyances and other com
munity centers. Immediate treat
ment by the family physician, in
structions as to the prevention of
spread and some form of seq
regation if possible in school is
advised. If the scalp is heavily in
fected, the child should be exclud-
ed from school or segregated from
the uninfected until the condition
Is under control Treatment
should begin Immediately and
should be followed persistently, as
complete cure may take months.
During the course of treatment,
the infected child should wear
an inexpensive head covering such
as stocking cap, which can be
easily disposed of by burning or
made sterile by boiling for thirty
minutes. A clean cap must be worn
each day. Parents should not take
infected children to BARRIERS for
haircuts since BARRIERS are not per-
mitted to cut the hair of any per-
son with ringworm of the scalp.