“Stop scratching! Let me see your hand!”
During the Spring Festival, I visited a friend’s house to pay my respects. As soon as I entered, I noticed that my friend was unconsciously scratching her arm. While she warmly welcomed us, offering drinks and fruits,
however as soon as her left hand was idle, she couldn’t help but scratch her right forearm.
My gaze casually swept across the corner of the living room, where my friend’s round British Shorthair was sitting on a cat climbing frame, lifting its hind leg to scratch its body incessantly. My heart skipped a beat, and an uneasy guess surfaced in my mind. Lifting my friend’s sleeve,a circular red patch was clearly imprinted on the forearm, with a slightly raised edge and some peeling.
This is a skin disease called “ringworm,” which can be transmitted between humans and cats in both directions. It is said that “to love it is to love all of it.” When ringworm comes knocking, we need to know these things.
What is ringworm, and why do humans get it from cats?
Ringworm, a name that might sound unfamiliar, is caused by fungal infections. Once a cat is “hit,” their skin may exhibit red patches, scaling, hair loss, and itching. When humans are infected with ringworm, the symptoms are similar.
Why does such a special bond exist between cats and humans? This is because some fungi can be transmitted between cats and humans, such as Microsporum and Trichophyton, among others. When cats with ringworm come into close contact with humans, these fungi may quietly infect the human skin.
Ringworm usually appears in the form of red patches or red circles, with scales on the edges, which many people find uncomfortable to look at. This specific morphology is related to the growth pattern of the fungus on the skin.
If the fungus infects the human face, it causes “tinea faciei”; if it lands on the body, it causes “tinea corporis”. But the most concerning scenario is perhaps when the fungus “invades” the scalp, resulting in not only red patches and scaling but also hair loss. This condition is known as “tinea capitis”.
It is important to remind everyone that this fungus can also be transmitted through dogs, rabbits, and other pets, which should also be taken seriously.
What tests should be done if you suspect ringworm?
How to treat it?
1. Topical drugs
For localized distribution of tinea faciei or tinea corporis, topical antifungal drugs are usually the first choice for treatment.
Effective topical antifungal drugs include azoles, allylamines, butenafine, ciclopirox, and tolnaftate, among others. It is usually recommended to use 1-2 times a day until the symptoms completely disappear.
2. Oral medications
For extensive or widespread tinea faciei and tinea corporis, or when topical drug treatment is ineffective, oral antifungal drug treatment can be considered, such as itraconazole, terbinafine, or griseofulvin, among others.
It is particularly important to note that the treatment of tinea capitis usually prefers oral antifungal drugs and does not recommend using only topical drugs.
Can other “germicidal” methods deal with ringworm?
People often ask about “germicidal” methods such as spraying alcohol on the affected area, using ketoconazole shampoo, and washing with a certain anti-inflammatory solution.
At first glance, they seem to make sense, but obviously, they are not reliable enough.
Either the concentration is not enough, or the ingredients are not right, which cannot achieve an effective antifungal effect, difficult to control the infection, and may allow the infection to spread from local to the whole body.
Furthermore, we always maintain a highly skeptical attitude towards some “traditional Chinese medicines” and “homemade medicines”. The ingredients of these products are often unclear, with many uncertainties, such as the illegal addition of hormones. Not only can they not effectively treat, but they may also exacerbate the condition, causing changes in the morphology of the skin lesions, and even evolve into “unrecognizable ringworm”. In this case, subsequent medical visits may affect the doctor’s diagnosis.
What should be noted during treatment?
Firstly, in addition to treating yourself, also take your cat to the pet hospital, otherwise, you may continue to infect each other indefinitely.
Secondly, during the treatment period, pay attention to cleaning your body, frequently wash and air out your clothes, and avoid sharing personal items such as towels and bath towels to
reduce the risk of cross-infection.
Although ringworm looks scary and is annoying when itchy, as long as you follow the doctor’s advice and treat it with the right medication, persist with the treatment,
you will usually achieve satisfactory treatment results.
References
