Can Rats Give You Ringworm?
WouterIf you have ever seen the red bumpy spots on a rat’s skin, you might be wondering, can rats give you ringworm. The signs of ringworm in a rat may not be immediately apparent, but they can appear on any part of the rat’s body, including the back, neck, and base of the tail. To properly diagnose ringworm in a rat, it is important to visit a veterinarian. The symptoms of rat ringworm may resemble those of many different diseases or skin infections.
A ringworm infection usually clears on its own after 48 hours, although it’s still important to get treatment in order to prevent recurrences. To treat the infection, you can either use an oral or topical medication. If the lesion is located on your body, it’s important to keep it covered while using any medication. If the ringworm is on your hands or feet, you can use a fungicidal lotion to treat it.
Although rat-borne rabies is extremely rare in humans, it is possible to get infected with the virus by touching the infected rat. The virus affects the lungs, the salivary glands, and Harderian glands near the eyes. It can cause severe illness, including influenza-like symptoms and viral meningitis, which is inflammation of the brain. There is currently no cure for rat-borne ringworm, but it is possible to disinfect the cage to eliminate the virus.
