Our kitten gave me ringworm! This is a nightmare?

Question

thanks to all of you who answered my previous post. The lovely little kitten that we fostered is now on week 4 of 5 weeks' treatment for ringworm. Despite daily bleaching, vacuming and hand washing, I seem to have contracted it. I have been treating 8 lesions (at last count) with Lamsil and am now so stressed by it. Maybe stress may have contributed to the infection (sick elderly dad and a brother admitted to hospital last week) but at this stage I can't take much more. My boyfriend who plays with the kitten daily has not contracted a single spot! Major worry is that I'm a kindergarten teacher and I'm terrified that there will be hysterical parents if they find out that I have this fungus. Please help even if it's only to offer consolation. Thanks

Answer 1

What can we say. The only thing you can do is wait for it to go away. I am sure you will have to deal with parents who do not want their children near you. Ask your supervisor what you should do. She may want you to stay away until you recoup. Evidently, if you caught ringworm from the kitten you had hands on. Everything will blow over.  You will be fine, and so will the kitten.

Answer 2

Calm down. It's completely treatable!

Put bandaids on the spots if you're concerned about the kids at school.  

I got a 'spot' from our cat who had it last year, only one fortunately, and we used the same treatment on him as we did on me.  The pharmacist said in humans it takes 2 months to completely disappear, the cat had it easy, his cleared up in 4 weeks.  

Ringworm is completely common and usuallly it's the kids that give it to adults, so any parent is going to understand, they won't be hysterical.  This, like lice, is something all parents are familiar with.

Answer 3

My goodness it sounds like you are going through a rough patch at the moment.

I am sure your doctor would have advised you if he thought that you could spread ringworm to your students.  If not perhaps you could just phone up and confirm that it is still alright for you to teach, if you are worried about it.

Hope things start to clear up for you soon and you get some good luck, it sounds like you need it :)  

Answer 4

For the most part, ringworm is an inconvenience more than it is a health issue.  It's our own immune systems that ultimately kick it, and that explains why you have it, and your boyfriend does not.  If you've had lots of stress, your immune system isn't what it should be.  Be sure to eat right, get lots of rest, take your vitamins - all those good general health things.  Are you bathing the kitten in an antifungal shampoo?  If so, when you bathe him, lather up your hands and arms, and that will help with your own ringworm!  

Answer 5

I feel your pain.  Been there and done that to....  :(

All I will say is do not give up sweetie.  This to shall pass.  I promise.  :)

xoxo

Answer 6

tht sounds awful. hopefully u will find a solution for the ringworm and you can put that problem behind.sounds like ur having a super challenging time aswell and i wish u all the patience to get through it.

Answer 7

First off, thank you for helping one small kitten.  Ring worm is a horrible disease, and the humane society I used to work with had a whole kitten room with it.  Image, 50 kittens, all needing treatment.  

As for the your students - I would actually call a nurse practitioner, or a doctor and see how contagious it is, and the best way of treating it, and avoid giving it to others.  This way, if your students parents find out, you can say you went to a doctor, and he said its fine you are working as long as you take suggested precautions.   Lamisil is good for treating Ringworm.  As long as you are taking precautions, such as hand washing, and keeping any infected spots covered, You should be fine.  

So, take a deep breath in - a deep breath out, and remember, it will be OK!

Answer 8

You need to calm down.

It's not a big deal. You need to treat the spots for 5-8 weeks with over-the-counter treatment.

To avoid any ramifications at work, see a doctor and get professional advice and maybe a prescription cream.  You can cover the spots with bandages to avoid spreading it to the kids.

It's really not that big a deal.