Contagious Skin Conditions

Nicole Moss, LAT, ATCISWA Sports Medicine Director

Prevention, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Bacterial Diseases Herpetic Lesions Tinea Lesions Scabies Molluscum Contagiosum

Bacterial Diseases: Impetigo Red pimple like sores surrounded

by red skin. Usually found on face, arms and legs. Often itchy.

Sores ooze fluid and look crusty. Often look like they have been coated with honey or brown sugar.

Sores increase in size and number.

Treatment with antibiotics for a minimum 3 days and all lesions scabbed with no discharge required for practice/competition to resume

Bacterial Diseases: Furuncle (Boil) Infection at hair follicle.

Start as red tender pea-sized lumps that grow rapidly. May become as large as golf ball.

May develop white or yellow centers as it fills with pus.

Must drain to heal, cover with sterile dressings, and antibiotic cream.

See a doctor if large, last longer than 2 weeks or on the face or near the spine. Will need cut/drain.

Herpetic Lesions Gladiatorum (skin) approx 20%-

40% incident rate in Div 1 NCAA wrestlers

Painful blisters most often on the face and neck

Often accompanied by fever, swollen glands and malaise

Treatment will include antiviral medication

1st outbreak minimum of 10-14 days of medication. Subsequent outbreaks require 5 days of medication before practice/competition resumes

Herpetic Lesions

Cold sores must be scabbed over with no oozing or discharge

Must have no new lesions for 48 hours prior to return to practice/competition

Tinea Lesions: Fungal Infection Tinea corporis (skin): flat skin

lesions at any site except the scalp, beard or feet.

These lesions may be dry and scaly or moist and crusty. As they enlarge, their centers heal, producing the classic

ring-shaped appearance.

Treatment with topical antifungal for a minimum of 3 days

Tinea Lesions: Capitas/Barbae

Tinea capitas (scalp) barbae (beard): small, spreading papules (bumps) that may progress to inflamed, pus-filled lesions. Patchy hair loss with scaling may occur.

Treatment with oral antifungal for 14 days required prior to return to practice/competition

Scabies

Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin condition caused by an infestation by the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei.

Direct skin-to-skin contact is the mode of transmission.

A severe and relentless itch is the predominant symptom of scabies.

Scabies produces a skin rash composed of small red bumps and blisters

Treatment includes oral or topical scabicidal drugs for a minimum of 24 hours

Molluscum Contagiosum

Viral infection of the skin

Spreads with direct skin to skin contact or contact with contaminated objects

Firm painless flesh colored bumps that are constricted at the base and have a dimpled dome.

Treatment is curettage or cryotherapy. May resume practice/competition after 24 hours.

Conclusion Personal hygiene is most important factor in preventing the spread

of disease. Athletes should shower immediately after every practice and competition. Encourage routine hand washing. Wash all practice clothing and towels daily. Don’t share items such as towels and razors.

Clean wrestling mats daily.

Hold infected athletes from practice/competition until no longer contagious.

Contact information: Nicole Moss 317-919-2193 nmoss@ecommunity.com

Questions