Tinea Capitis
Medical Questions » Illnesses » 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.
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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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