A young girl has started losing her hair after her family adopted an adorable cat- and her parents say she may need to shave her head until the condition goes.
When the youngster was given the seemingly harmless new pet by her parents, they could never have guessed that in just a week’s time she would develop a huge bald patch.
But according to the news site Toutiao, the cat infected the girl with tinea capitis – a fungal infection of the scalp also known as scalp ringworm.
The condition can be caught by coming into close contact with an infected animal or person.
The family, from Shenzhen city in the south-eastern Chinese province of Guangdong, have now sought treatment from a doctor.
(Image: jmlw777/AsiaWire)
(Image: jmlw777/AsiaWire)
They had to take the girl to a salon to have the affected area shaved to give the infection a chance to heal and may need to continue doing so.
Symptoms of tinea capitis include hair loss, redness, itchiness, and dry scaly areas – but the youngster appears to have a sense of humour about the situation.
In a clip circulating online the girl can be seen lowering her head and pouting jokily while displaying the patch for the camera.
(Image: jmlw777/AsiaWire)
She scowls and takes a sip of smoothie before performing a mock angry walk away.
Fortunately, tinea capitis can usually be treated with an antifungal medicine.
In the UK, pharmacists can help with cream, gel or spray that typically clears the rash up in around four weeks.
