Why does my daughter keep getting ringworm?
Ringworm, or tinea, is a common fungal skin infection. Children most often get ringworm from young animals, like kittens and guinea pigs. They can also pick it up through contact with infected people and contaminated objects, including playground equipment, carpet, shower floors, brushes, clothing and towels.
Is ringworm associated with cats?
Suggested Articles. Ringworm (feline dermatophytosis) is among the most frequently occurring skin disorders affecting the worldwide cat population. Despite its name, it is a fungal infection having nothing at all to do with worms.
Can humans give kittens ringworm?
Can my son give ringworm to our cat? A: Yes. Ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin, hair or nails, is zoonotic, which means it’s a disease shared by humans, cats, dogs and other animals.
What should I do if my cat has ringworm?
If ringworm is diagnosed, treatment will typically involve the application of topical antifungal medications to all infected areas and, in most cases, a systemic medication as well. If the lesions are present in many areas of a cat’s skin, a full-body rinse or dip may be used.
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.
How long does ringworm last in a kitten?
The spores are naturally shed, so kittens can become infected by contact with a ringworm-positive kitten, or through their environment. Ringworm is very durable in the environment and spores can live dormant for up to 18 months.
What kind of worm does a kitten have?
Ringworm, despite its misleading name, is actually not a worm at all–it is a fungal infection of the skin and hair. This funky fungus preys on the young and immunocompromised, putting kittens at a high risk of infection when exposed.
What are the symptoms of ringworm in cats?
Cats may begin to lose hair or develop a dull or stubby coat. Signs may progress to patchy hair loss, scaling or itchy skin and infected nails. How Common Is Cat Ringworm? While some diseases are rare, ringworm makes its rounds; it is perhaps the most frequently encountered infectious skin disease of cats worldwide.
How can I prevent my cat from getting ringworm?
Preventing cat ringworm is challenging but not impossible. First and foremost, a healthy cat with a healthy coat and skin is less likely to develop ringworm from contamination with the fungal spores. Nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of a cat’s skin and hair follicles, where the fungal spores will fight to inhabit.
How often should you shampoo a cat with ringworm?
Shampoo the cat. Washing the cat with an appropriate shampoo can help clean the hair follicles, and reduce the shedding of infected hairs and dander. This should be done for both clipped and unclipped cats. Twice weekly shampooing for 6-10 weeks is recommended as a back up to antifungal medications.
How did ringworm get its name from kittens?
With Kittens Comes Ringworm. Let’s get this out of the way first — ringworm (more correctly called dermatophytosis) has nothing to do with worms. It got the name because the raised ring that is a characteristic of the infection in people, but not pets, looks a bit like a worm lodged underneath the skin.