Ringworm Of The Scalp: How To Treat Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp and hair – including the eyebrows and eyelashes. Its symptoms include itching, scaly, dry rashes, and red, swollen patches. Mold-like fungi called dermatophytes are the culprits behind tinea capitis. Treatment for the infection involves taking an oral antifungal medication. Since this can affect children, it’s important for parents to know more about it.  

Tinea Capitis: What Is It?

Tinea capitis develops due to the fungi affecting the hair and scalp. 

The inflammatory form of tinea capitis can result in kerion, which are painful, pus-filled patches that occasionally ooze. Kerion is caused by your child’s immune system reacting to the fungus, and it may result in scarring and irreversible hair loss.

The non-inflammatory form of tinea capitis can cause:

• Black dot tinea capitis, which causes your child’s hair shafts to break at the surface of their scalp
• Gray patch tinea capitis, which causes your child’s hair shafts to break above the surface, leaving short stubs. But it rarely results in permanent hair loss.

Who Is Susceptible To Tinea Capitis?

Tinea capitis commonly affects children between the ages of 3 and 14.  However it can also affect adults. Also, those with weakened immunity are more vulnerable.

Where Is This Condition More Common?

Primary care physicians and dermatologists frequently treat tinea capitis, a disorder that is diagnosed globally but is particularly prevalent in hot, humid regions like Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

How Does Tinea Capitis Spread?

The fungus known as dermatophytes are what cause ringworm of the scalp. Fungi are creatures that survive on dead tissue, such as fingernails, hair, and the outer layers of your skin. Dermatophytes thrive in warm and wet environments, therefore they flourish better on sweaty skin.

Ringworm spreads quickly, especially among children. You can catch ringworm by contacting an infected person’s skin. You also run the risk of getting ringworm if you use combs, beds, or other items that have been touched by an infected person. 

Farm animals including goats, cows, horses, and pigs can also be carriers, though they may not exhibit any symptoms of infection. House pets like cats and dogs can also spread ringworm.

The most frequent dermatophytes that cause tinea capitis in the United States are those with the names Microsporum and Trichophyton. Please keep in mind that tinea capitis is very contagious and can spread quickly. Hence, your child can contract tinea capitis when they spend time with infected individuals or get exposed to contaminated objects. 

Signs and Symptoms

The most noticeable sign of ringworm is itchy patches on the scalp. If left untreated, these patches may gradually enlarge and spread. Sections of hair may fall out close to the scalp, producing scaly, red areas or bald spots.

Other symptoms include: 

+ Broken hair

+ Uneven-looking scalp due to the bald spots

+ Scalp with flakes that mimic dandruff

+ Red and swollen areas.

+ Scaly, dry rashes.

+ Extreme itching.

+ An enlarged lymph node

+ Low-grade fever

In more extreme circumstances, you could see crusty, pus-draining swellings called kerions, which can cause scarring and permanent bald areas.

Diagnosis

A visual examination is frequently sufficient for a doctor to identify scalp ringworm. Your doctor may also use a wood’s lamp to illuminate your scalp and look for evidence of infection.

In order to confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may also take a sample of your skin or hair. This sample is then submitted to a lab where it is examined under a microscope to see if there are any fungi present. This procedure could take up to three weeks.

Treatment

The doctor is most likely to prescribe medicated shampoo and fungi-killing oral medications for your child. 

Antifungal drugs

Some oral treatments should be taken for about six weeks and may have some side effects like diarrhea and upset stomach. The doctor might advise taking them with high-fat food like peanut butter or ice cream.

Therapeutic shampoo

The shampoo contains the active antifungal ingredient, like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, which helps prevent the fungus from spreading but does not treat ringworm. You must combine this type of treatment with an oral medication. Your doctor may prescribe medicated shampoo to treat fungus and stop the spread of infection.

Your physician could advise using this shampoo a few times each week for a month, leaving it on for five minutes, and then rinsing.

Reminders On Treating Tinea Capitis

Be patient and keep taking all prescribed medications as indicated because ringworm cures very slowly and could take longer than a month to show any improvement.

It can be difficult to get rid of ringworm and it is possible to contract the infection more than once, but recurrences typically stop at puberty.

Long-term effects could include scarring or bald patches. Your doctor may want to check you or your child in 4 to 6 weeks to make sure the infection is clearing up.

Once they begin ringworm treatment, your child can typically return to school. However, you should ask your doctor whether it is safe for them to return.

Do not share towels, hats, or other personal items with family members. You can sterilize combs and brushes that belong to the infected person by soaking them in bleach water. Follow the directions on the bleach container for the proper dilution ratio. Examine pets and other family members and treat them as necessary to help prevent reinfection.

Prevention 

Since children are particularly vulnerable, inform your children about tinea capitis, how it spreads, and what can be done to prevent it. For instance, stress the importance of regular hand washing and don’t forget to model good hygiene habits for them.

While ringworm of the scalp is difficult to prevent, the fungus that causes it is common, and the condition is contagious even before symptoms appear, you can still take these steps to reduce the risk of ringworm: 

+ Inform yourself and others – including kids – about the risk of contracting ringworm from sick humans or animals, Tell kids about ringworm, what to look out for, and how to prevent getting it.

+ Use shampoo frequently. Routinely cleanse your child’s scalp, especially after haircuts. Some treatments for moisturizing the scalp, like coconut oil and pomades with selenium, may help prevent scalp ringworm.

+ Keep your skin dry and clean. Make sure kids wash their hands, especially after playing with animals. Maintain cleanliness in communal places, particularly in gyms, child care facilities, schools, and locker rooms.

+ Avoid contact with infected animals. If you have pets or other animals that frequently carry ringworm, ask your veterinarian to examine them for the illness. The infection frequently resembles a patch of skin where fur is gone.

+ Avoid sharing personal belongings, instruct kids to never let anyone else use their clothes, towels, hairbrushes, sports equipment, or other goods that are meant to be used only by them.

If your child has symptoms of tinea capitis, please bring them to the doctor as soon as possible. That way, they can receive treatment right away.