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Tinea Capitis

Medical Questions » Tinea Capitis
Name: Tinea Capitis
Also known as:
A fungal infection of the skin on the scalp that usually occurs in children.
Causes of Tinea Capitis
The fungi usually come from the Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton families. Caught by close contact with another infected human or animal (eg. cat, dog).
Symptoms of Tinea Capitis
An irregular, relatively bald patch on the scalp covered in a fine scale and broken hair stubble (the fungi invades the hairs and causes them to become fragile and break).
Tests for Tinea Capitis
Diagnosis proved by taking a skin scraping or hair sample, and examining it under a microscope for fungal spores. Ultraviolet light (Wood' s light) in an otherwise dark room, will cause a bright green fluorescence of hair and skin affected by a fungus.
Treatment for Tinea Capitis
Antifungal ointments, lotions, tinctures and shampoos.
Complications of Tinea Capitis of its treatment
A severely affected patch may develop a thick build-up of scale and form a fungal abscess (kerion).
Likely Outcome of Tinea Capitis
Very good.
       
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