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While germs are everywhere
in our environment, some are more damaging than others. We can
let the idea of germs drive us nuts, or we can learn to come to
terms with the fact that some germs are symbiotic to our survival
while others are not. While we can't control the fact that we
will come into contact with many of them on a daily basis, we
can diminish the likelihood of serving as host to some of the
more unpleasant ones simply by adopting good hygiene habits.
My inspiration for this edition came from a recent outbreak of
fungus in a local gym. Although it is not life threatening, it
is certainly unpleasant to catch any form of this infection. One
of the most common types found in a gym environment is ringworm,
caused by the Tinea microbe. It can affect the scalp, the body
(ring worm), the feet (athlete's foot), the groin (jock itch),
and the nails. People can become infected through direct contact
with an infected person or pet, contact with objects or surfaces
that an infected person or pet has come in contact with, or contact
with infected soil. The last form of transference is the least
common.
Although the fungus is known by different names depending on the
area of the body that the symptoms appear, it is essentially the
same fungus. While the name "ringworm": conjures up
horrible images of microscopic worms on the body, the fungus is
actually called so because of the red "ring" that appears
around the infected area, and has nothing to do with actual worms.
It is contagious even before symptoms appear. When the fungus
appears on other areas of the body it is often in a different
form. On the feet it is usually scaly, appearing between the toes,
and on the nails it causes discoloration, thickening, and brittle
nails. Scalp ringworm usually appears 10 to 14 days after contact,
while ringworm of the skin takes only 4 to 10 days to appear after
contact.
Although you can catch a fungal infection from cats or dogs, I've
noticed that floor matting (often located in gyms), in particular,
tends to attract this microbe because it provides an environment
conducive to ideal living conditions for the fungus. However,
fungus can grow in other areas as well. Especially any medium
that comes in contact with perspiration and offers a stable living
environment can serve as a host for an unwanted microbe. This
includes weight and cardio machines, tile locker room floors,
public showers and punching bags to name a few.
Taking some simple precautions like wearing shoes or flip-flops
on public floors and in public showers, cleaning off gym equipment
before and after you use it, and showering thoroughly after a
workout can help to diminish your chances of catching ringworm.
If you are unfortunate enough to pick it up, there are several
over-the-counter medications that will help you get rid of it.
Since it is contagious, remember to cover the infection when you
are in common areas to protect others from exposure to the fungus.
Here are some things to remember when dealing with fungal infections:
* Practice good hygiene
* Wear flip-flops in public showers
* Wipe down gym equipment before and after use
* Shower after workouts
* Watch for any unusual markings on the skin
* Seek treatment if markings do appear
* Protect others from exposure to infection
If you are unfortunate enough to come into contact with a fungal
infection, remember not to panic, just take it all in stride.
This too shall pass!
Reference: http://www.eco-vie.com/a_ringworm.html
Melissa Allen is a certified
personal trainer, Blackbelt & fitness consultant, as well
as the owner of Optimum Condition— personal fitness training
and kickboxing instruction. She is a regular columnist with various
newspapers and welcomes input from her readers. Please contact
her with any questions or comments that you may have by calling
(619) 252-4993, email her at Opticondit@aol.com, or visit her
website at www.optimumcondition.com. |
