You may have heard about different types of worms that can infect your body. It turns out that some are and some aren’t really worms.

Let’s talk about a couple common "worms" in our lives. And believe it or not -- in and of themselves, they are relatively harmless. Perhaps icky to think about and have, but harmless, nonetheless.

Ringworm: you may have heard of this. It is actually not a worm, but a term used to describe a fungal infection of the skin. It typically looks like a pink raised area in the shape of an "O" or "C" with a scaly or flaky edge -- looking very much like a worm that may be under the skin. But it’s not. It's just a fungus called "tinea" that normally lives on your skin.

There are many bacteria and fungus that live on your skin. They just love the chance to grow out of control. Warm, moist conditions or breaks in the skin -- like small cuts or scrapes -- are what make the fungus grow. You can also get the fungus from someone else -- it’s pretty contagious. Common situations or places to get the fungus from are people, gym class (think sweaty gym clothes or gym mats), pools or gym shower floors. Cats and dogs can also carry the fungus. The infection is easily treated with an antifungal cream.

You can try to prevent getting this infection by making sure you don't touch someone who has tinea until they have been treated. Also, make sure that you change out of sweaty, damp exercise clothes to dry clothes as soon as possible, and wear flip-flops at the pool or the gym shower.

Pinworms: Okay, these are real worms, called Enterobius vermilus. They are tiny, tiny worms that get into your body when you accidentally eat them, or actually the eggs (very tiny). The eggs hatch in the large intestine and the adult worm makes its way out to the anus or, sometimes in girls/women, the vagina. It can cause intense itching around the anus or vagina or vaginal discharge, especially at night. That's when the female worm comes out and lays it's eggs. It is the eggs that cause the skin reaction.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will often have you or a parent do a "tape" test. This is when a piece of scotch tape is applied to the affected area late a night, when the worm is supposed to have come out and laid eggs. The tape is then checked for eggs or worms under the microscope. Believe it or not, it's also treatable -- which an "antiparasitic" type antibiotic. Pinworms can be passed from person to person by direct contact (often to family members). It"s common in little kids (because they're always touching and eating everything!). The best way to prevent getting it is good hand washing, and washing the clothes and bed sheets of someone who has been infected.

Round Worms: A special note on recent local worm infestations -- in Menlo Park, there were two children infected with Roundworms. These are worms that come from infected cats or dogs that defecate into sand or dirt -- then the kids touch or eat the infected sand or dirt. These are FAR from deadly. In the industrialized world, it mainly causes diarrhea and perhaps weight loss. It is easily treated with antiparasitic medication.