Ring Worm & Back Yard Pool?

[mom2-4]

Ok, we have one of the intex swimming pools in our back yard. The type that have the ring you have to blow up and that ring holds the pool up. We keep it chlorinated between the max and min level at all times!!! We also shock it right after filling and let the chlorine level fall, before anyone is allowed in. We change the filter at least once a day, if not twice!!!

Now, my question is does anyone think that the neighbor kid could have gotten ring worm from my pool?

I have been in the pool, all 4 of my kids have been in the pool. 3 y.o. dd the most. She does nost have any signs of a rash.

But, my older three kids are on vacation with grandparents, and before they left dd 8 yo had a rash on her arm. (Before they left I did not know that the neighbor girl had ring worm) This particular dd was playing with the Ring worm infected girl--alot, slept at her house, she slept here, slept in a tent together...so on and so on.

Also, the sister of the ring worm infected girl also has ring worm, the sister was NOT in our pool at all, but already has ring worm. We only put our pool up the day before father's day. I read that it takes 4-10 days for ring worm to show up, then a couple more days to actually "ring".

I don't know at what point the ring worm is contagious after being contracted. But the other strange thing is that the sister was "away" for the majority of the summer!!!!!

Now they won't let their kids in our pool....not that I really care, but the funny thing about that is that they let the kids swim in the creek, now. I guess they think that is safer than our pool.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I really needed to vent about this, because, I don't have ring worm and 3 yo dd does not have ring worm, and she has been in the pool the most!!!

[rbrown]

You can only contract a ring worm from direct contact with the infected area of a person with a ring worm or contact with the cat itself. You can get infintigo (how ever u spell it) from the sand or dirt that a cat uses to poop but not a ring worm. You can not get a ring worm from the water of a swimming pool.

[peirogi]

You can't get ringworm from a swimming pool. Especially one that is treated with chlorine and other chemicals. I would say good news that they won't let their kids swim in it! Fewer kids for you to be responsible for!!

[mom2-4]

Thank you for your replies!!

Now, can the ring worm be "passed" around the swimming pool if an infected child has been in the pool?

[MoMtO3&LuViT]

"Ringworm" is not an actual worm but a fungal infection. It can be contracted through direct contact. I myself had it about 6 years ago. I got it from gardening and scratching my back with dirty nails. The chlorine should keep it from spreading in the pool, but if the children were playing together they can pass it on. You can treat it with Blue Star ointment, but a prescribed antifungal is better.

Good Luck!

[dxlifer]

i must add, just to complicate the picture, that a person can be a silent carrier as well. when my daughter was in diapers and i had a farm i was treating a horse for ring worm. then one day i became puzzled at a little red dot that appeared on the baby's waist - where my hands touched when doing the diaper thing......sure enough, it developed into ringworm and trying to treat an 18 month old was horrible.....it spread all over before i ignored the doctor's instruction and treated in my own fashion.

but i never got it and nor did anyone else in the house. so i had to have carried it myself and it certainly taught me the value of washing my hands thoroughly!

carol

[Georgieanna]

I wouldn't worry about those neighbors, if I were you. One of my children had it when they were young and the Dr. said that it was picked up by playing in the dirt. That my child then must have scrathed himself and that's the way he got ringworm. My other 2 children did not get it nor did my husband or I. The Dr. prescribed an ointment and it was quickly gone. I hope the same for you if any of your children have contacted it from the little neighbor girl. You did no wrong. ;-)

[Lisa Berry]

We've had someone w/ ringworm in my family off and on for 7 yrs. There are 3 boys that wrestle for our school district and we have farm animals that can carry it as well. If you treat it regularly it can be stopped. (It's just in our case new cases are too easy to come by during the wrestling season!) Good Luck

[jns131]

After reading your post and replies, I am of the opinion that your pool had nothing to do with ringworm. But actually from the creek itself. If the creek isn't clean and/or not of good swimming quality? You can get ringworm.
If I read correctly, you change the filter on a daily basis? That is a bit extreme. According to the instructions, it says to change the filter on a semi weekly basis. As for shocking the pool? Be careful not to damage the pool or its plastic components. I have one of those blow up the ring and add water types too. Except we had to add 1 ton of sand to level out the area we wanted to put it in. Now its level. I would talk to your doctor and I would also call a veternarian as well. They have the most information on ring worm. Why? Dogs more so then cats get ringworm. It is a concern because humans do catch this and it is a most annoying situation.
As for your centrifuge? It says to add 1 inch chloranted tablets and add as needed. I would reread the instructions and not go overboard on the chlorine. I think what you are doing is fine. At this point? I would say good riddance to neighbors like those.

[ewriggs]

According to the CDC, ringworm is contracted through direct contact with an infected person or animal. It can also be acquired from playing in the dirt with a broken area on the skin - in other words, it would practically be a miracle for a kid to grow up and never get ringworm!

At this point there is no telling where the neighbors picked up ringworm. Your dd either picked it up from the same source or from the neighbor's child.

Treating ringworm can be a pain. Many of the fungi (plural of fungus) are becoming immune to some of our best anti-fungal medicines.

AS far as your pool goes, just keep on keepin' on with treating with chlorine. To prevent ringworm, have your kids bathe thoroughly and frequently in the summer. If they have been around a person or animal who has ringworm, have them wash with Fels Naphtha Soap or with Octagon Soap. Both of those seem to "work" better at preventing things like ringworm and poison ivy / oak than other kinds of soap.

Have a good rest of the summer!

Cheerio!