Tinea Capatis: Symptoms, Cause, Diagnoses & Treatment

 

A fungal infection that affects your child's scalp and hair is called tinea capitis, sometimes known as scalp ringworm. Swollen reddish patches, dry, scaly rashes, itching, and hair loss are some of the signs and symptoms of tinea capitis. Tinea capitis is caused by mold-like fungi known as dermatophytes. Using an oral antifungal medication is part of the treatment for tinea capitis.

What is Tinea capitis?

A fungal infection of the scalp that affects the skin and hair is called tinea capitis. Another name for it is scalp ringworm. Hair loss, redness, itchiness, and dry, scaly patches are signs of tinea capitis. 

A fungal infection that affects your child's scalp and hair is called tinea capitis. Scalp ringworm is another name for tinea capitis. Fungi that enter your child's hair follicles and frequently hair shafts cause tinea capitis. The eyebrows and eyelashes of your youngster may also be affected by tinea capitis.

Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory tinea capitis are possible. Kerion may result from an inflammatory type. Painful, pus-filled, and occasionally oozing areas are known as tinea capitis kerion. Kerion is the result of an immune system reaction to the fungus in your child. Permanent hair loss and scars could result from it.

Permanent hair loss is rare in cases of non-inflammatory tinea capitis. It may result in black dot tinea capitis, a condition where the hair shafts of your child break at the surface of their scalp. There is another kind of non-inflammatory ringworm called gray patch tinea capitis. It indicates that the hair shafts in your child break above the surface, leaving short stubs.

How often occurs capitis tinea?

Dermatologists and primary care physicians frequently treat tinea capitis. Around the world, the infection is diagnosed. It is especially prevalent in warm, humid areas like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central America.

Also Read: Fungal infection (Mycosis): Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What tinea capitis symptoms are present?

A child's scalp may be completely or partially affected by tinea capitis. Among the symptoms could be:

• Red, swollen patches.
• Scaly, dry rashes.
• Severe itching.
• Patches of alopecia (hair loss).
• Scalp flaking that looks like dandruff.
• Low fever.
• Swollen nodes of lymph.

Your child's scalp may experience uncomfortable swelling patches due to inflammatory tinea capitis. We refer to these patches as kerion. There could be pus-filled, crusty blisters on the kerion. Your child may have permanent scars from inflammatory tinea capitis and their hair may not regrow.

Hair shafts break at the surface as a result of black dot tinea capitis, looking at black dots. Tinea capitis with a gray area causes short hair stubs.

What does tinea capitis cause?

Tinea capitis is brought on by dermatophytes, fungi that resemble mold. Trichophyton and Microsporum dermatophytes are the most frequent sources of infection in the US. Fungi prefer warm, humid conditions to flourish. Tropical regions are often where it grows.

Additionally, tinea capitis spreads quickly. Contact with contaminated persons, animals, or dirt can result in tinea capitis in your child. They may also come into contact with the fungus by handling or utilizing items that are infected. On contaminated materials and objects, tinea capitis can survive for a very long period.

 Tinea capitis risk factors:

Tinea capitis grows best in warm, humid conditions. Among the most prevalent risk factors are:

• Residing in a tropical climate.
• Traveling to places where it's hot and muggy.
• Living near other people.
• Engaging in sports involving contact.
• Having little wounds to the scalp.
• Do not give your kids regular baths or washings.
• Sweating excessively (hyperhidrosis).
• Distributing items and supplies like caps, hairbrushes, and athletic gear.
• Having weakened immune systems as a result of diseases like diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

How does tinea capitis spread?

Tinea capitis spreads easily. It spreads swiftly among kids. There are three major ways that tinea capitis spreads.


Humans: After coming into close touch with an infected person, your child may acquire  tinea capitis. The individual could have symptoms or not. However, they can spread the virus if they are a carrier.

Animals: If your child comes into contact with an infected animal, they could contract tinea capitis. Tinea capitis can spread among a wide variety of animals. Pets like dogs and cats are included in this.

Fomites: are materials or items that have a high potential for infection. If your child shares helmets, caps, combs, hairbrushes, or other items, they could contract tinea capitis.

Diagnoses and Examinations:

How does one diagnose tinea capitis?
The doctor treating your child will inquire about their symptoms. In addition, a physical examination will be conducted. They will examine your child's scalp, skin, and hair. If they were to look at it, they could be able to identify it as ringworm.

The doctor treating your child might want to take a sample of the affected region. They'll remove a few hairs from your child's head and/or take a tiny sample. To confirm a diagnosis of tinea capitis, they might wish to conduct other tests.

What examinations will be performed to identify tinea capitis?
 To verify the diagnosis of tinea capitis, the doctor treating the child can request testing.

KOH stain:

The medical professional treating your child will carefully scrape off a little portion of skin from the affected area of the scalp. They might also remove a few hairs. A technician in the lab will arrange the samples on a microscope slide. There is a potassium hydroxide (KOH) drop on the slide. The samples will be examined under a microscope. The technician can more easily determine whether there is a fungus present thanks to the KOH stain. Usually, the findings are available within a day.

Culture:

Your child’s doctor may request a culture if the KOH stain yields unreliable results. A culture is a material that facilitates the growth of fungus. The fungus causing your child's infection can then be identified by the technician. Although the findings of a culture can be obtained after several weeks, it is more accurate and specific than a KOH stain.

Wooden light:

One particular kind of ultraviolet (UV) light is a wood light. The medical professional treating your child will apply a Wood light to their scalp. They might identify the type of fungus that is causing the ringworm. When other rashes don't glow under UV light, ringworm sometimes does. The spot on your child's scalp may glow yellow, green, or blue, depending on the type of dermatophyte present.

How does one treat tinea capitis?

An antifungal drug may be recommended by your child's doctor to treat tinea capitis. When topical therapies are ineffective, they would typically recommend an oral drug. The medication will need to be taken by your youngster for a minimum of six weeks. Children's oral antifungal drugs include terbinafine and griseofulvin.

The doctor treating your child might recommend a shampoo containing selenium sulfide. At least twice a week, you must use the shampoo to wash your child's hair. This shampoo won't treat tinea capitis; instead, it might help stop the illness from spreading.

The doctor who treats your child may also suggest an antifungal cream. The antifungal cream should be applied straight to your child's scalp. Creams with antifungal properties can aid in preventing the infection's progress. However, they cannot treat tinea capitis.

Your child's doctor might recommend a corticosteroid like prednisone if they have kerion. Steroids can reduce inflammation, and minimize the chance of permanent hair loss and scarring.

Oral antifungal medications are also used in the treatment of tinea capitis in adults. To ensure that the infection goes away, you must take the medication for at least six weeks. Adults can take itraconazole and terbinafine orally as antifungal drugs. In addition, your healthcare professional might suggest steroids, antifungal treatments, and shampoo containing selenium sulfide.

How can I care for my family at home and myself?

You should check the rest of your household for tinea capitis if you or your child have the infection. They may not exhibit any symptoms, yet you still might wish to treat them. If not, everyone might keep infecting and spreading the disease to one another. For a minimum of six weeks, children can use antifungal creams or shampoos twice a week.

You should also give your towels, blankets, and pillows a good wash. Any shared combs, brushes, and other hair tools should be cleaned, sanitized, and/or replaced.

Precautions:

You may take a lot of precautions to avoid tinea capitis. These actions consist of:

• Avoid from sharing personal items like helmets, combs, hairbrushes, hats, and pillows.
• Make sure your child's scalp is dry and clean.
• Keep healthy children away from youngsters who have tinea capitis.
• Steer clear of areas where your child could contract the illness.
• Regularly wash pillows, sheets, and other bedding.
• After handling, playing with, or caressing animals, wash your hands.

References:

• Merck Manual. Scalp Ringworm (Tinea Capitis) (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/fungal-skin-infections/scalp-ringworm-tinea-capitis). (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/fungal-skin-infections/scalp-ringworm-tinea-capitis) Accessed 3/3/2022.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm (https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/ringworm/index.html). Accessed 3/3/2022.

• National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine. Ringworm of the scalp (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000878.htm). Accessed 3/3/2022.

• Khosravi AR, Shokri H, Vahedi G. Factors in Etiology and Predisposition of Adult Tinea Capitis and Review of Published Literature (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27004946/). Mycopathologia. 2016;181(5-6):371-378. Accessed 3/3/2022.

• Chen X, Jiang X, Yang M, et al. Systemic antifungal therapy for tinea capitis in children (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27169520/). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2016(5):CD004685. Published 2016 May 12. Accessed 3/3/2022.