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Barbara Bush Children's Hospital

The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital
At Maine Medical Center

22 Bramhall Street
Portland, Maine 04102-3175
www.bbch.org


What's Ringworm?

Ringworm

Say: RING-wurm

When you see this word, you may picture a curled-up worm. But ringworm isn't an animal — it's a contagious infection on the skin, scalp, or nails that's caused by a type of germ called a fungus. It's called ringworm because of how the rash looks — it's shaped like a ring that is red and swollen on the edge and healthy-looking in the center. Ringworm affects people of all ages, but is especially common in kids.