Infectious Diseases Search
Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases
tinea%20capitis
TINEA CAPITIS
Tinea capitis  is a contagious dermatophytosis affecting the hair shaft and follicles of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes.
It is most common in the crowded areas as infection originates from contact with a pet or an infected person and asymptomatic carriage persists indefinitely.
It primarily affects children 3-7 years of age.
The causative agents are the genus Trichophyton and Microsporum.
Cardinal clinical feature is the combination of inflammation with hair breakage and loss.

Diagnosis

  • All specimens obtained (scalp scrapings, hair follicles) should undergo microscopy & culture, w/ causative organism identified

Laboratory Tests

Microscopy

  • Provides the most rapid means of diagnosis but may not always be positive in affected patients
  • Scalp scales &/or hair are mounted in 10-30% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, gently heated & viewed under light or flourescence microscope
  • Positive results reveal hairs and scales invaded by spores &/or hyphae

Causative Agents

  • Large-spored endothrix pattern chains of large spores within hair (Trichophyton tonsurans, T violaceum)
  • Large-spored ectothrix (T verrucosum, T mentagrophytes)
  • Small-spored ectothrix randomly arranged in masses inside & on the surface of the hair shaft (Microsporum canis, M audouinii)

Dermoscopy (Trichoscopy)

  • A noninvasive in vivo imaging technique that may aid in the diagnosis of Tinea capitis, especially in patients w/ black dot pattern

Culture

  • Allows accurate identification of organism but results may take up to 4 weeks
  • Use of Sabouraud agar w/ 1 or more plates w/ cycloheximide is recommended
  • Results may be positive even when microscopy is negative
  • Necessary in hair fungal infections to identify the source of infection & verify the infecting species

Wood’s Light Exam

  • Useful for certain ectothrix infections (eg M canis, M audouini, M rifalieri)
  • If present, will cause hair to fluoresce bright green
  • T tonsurans which causes most Tinea capitis does not fluoresce
Digital Edition
Asia's trusted medical magazine for healthcare professionals. Get your MIMS Infectious Diseases - Malaysia digital copy today!
Sign In To Download
Editor's Recommendations
Most Read Articles
Wearable device facilitates remote patient monitoring in hospital, nontraditional settings
Jairia Dela Cruz, 22 Apr 2020
A wristwatch-like device that monitors pulse, breathing and blood oxygen levels of the user allows physicians to provide care remotely both in hospital and nontraditional settings, and may help in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Vaginal cleansing prophylaxis reduces SSIs after Caesarean delivery
Roshini Claire Anthony, 27 May 2020

The use of a vaginal cleansing intervention prior to Caesarean delivery reduced the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), according to a study presented at ACOG 2020. However, the addition of intravenous (IV) azithromycin prophylaxis had no added impact on SSI rates. 

COVID-19 more serious in persons with asthma
Pank Jit Sin, 21 May 2020

Persons suffering from asthma should pay particular attention to SARS-CoV-2 precautionary measures such as social distancing, regular handwashing, and wearing of masks on top of keeping their asthma in control. This is because data collected so far paints a bleaker picture for asthmatics than the normal population should they catch COVID-19.

World Federation of Neurology proposes international registries to report neurological manifestations of COVID-19
Natalia Reoutova, 2 days ago

A comprehensive review of neurological disorders reported during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demonstrates that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affects the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and muscles, leading the Environmental Neurology Specialty Group of the World Federation of Neurology to propose implementation of international neurological registries.