Can a 3 month old get ringworm?
“Ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin or scalp, is common in children over 3, but uncommon in infants. It’s easily treated when it affects the skin, but treatment of scalp lesions usually requires several weeks of medication taken by mouth.”
How long is ringworm contagious in kittens?
Infected pets remain contagious for about three weeks if aggressive treatment is used. The ringworm will last longer and remain contagious for an extended period of time if only minimal measures are taken or if you are not faithful with the prescribed approach.
Why do kittens get ringworm more often than other cats?
Cats don’t just get the disease more frequently than do other animals, they also shed LARGE numbers of fungal spores when they are infected. So while the ringworm fungus can be found virtually everywhere in our environments, contact with an infected kitten or cat is often responsible for overwhelming a person or pet’s natural defenses.
Can a kitten with ringworm stay in a shelter?
Systemic treatment is an important adjunct to topical therapy, especially in a shelter where time-to-cure is an important consideration. Extended stays in a shelter or foster care increase the chance of spread, use precious isolation space, and may reduce the adoptability of the patient, especially if kittens are allowed to grow old in treatment.
When to stop treatment for ringworm in kittens?
Treatment generally needs to continue for several months and should not be stopped until hair is starting to regrow and fungal cultures are rechecked and found to be negative.
Is there a cure for ringworm in shelters?
Awaiting self-cure is certainly a reasonable choice in a single animal household with no young children or immunocompromised adults where contagion is not a major concern. However, in a shelter environment or foster situation, a more rapid resolution is highly desirable.