The ringworm of the hair or Tinea capitis, as the Dermatologists like to call it, is a typically pediatric contagious mycosis. It is characterized by the inflammation of more or less extensive areas of the scalp, where it is possible to note a certain degree of skin desquamation, pseudoalopecia and erythema.
After the infection follows an incubation period of 10-14 days, at the end of which appear hair loss and scaling, sometimes accompanied by crusts and pus.
Tinea capitis has a rather long course, and therapies are not always readily effective. In fact, due to its particular location, the ringworm of the hair requires treatment with systemic antifungals, while topical therapy is not recommended.
Tinea capitis predominantly affects school-age children, becoming very rare after puberty. In adult men, Tinea barbae is more common, a mycosis that affects the areas of the face where the beard grows, while in adult women the ringworm of the capillizio tends to take root especially after menopause. This particular epidemiological distribution is dictated by the obstacle that sebaceous fatty acids offer towards the fungal infection; activity that is stimulated by the sex hormones that characterize the fertile period of life.
| Hair ringworm, therapeutic options: oral antifungals | ||
| DRUG | DOSAGE | DURATION |
| griseofulvin | 10-25 mg / kg / day | 8-10 weeks |
| Terbinafine | <20 kg 62.5 mg / day > 20 kg <40 kg 125 mg / day > 40 kg 250 mg / day | 4 weeks |
| traconazolo | 5 mg / kg / day | 1-4 weeks |
| These indications are purely indicative and are not intended to replace the opinion of the attending physician | ||
Tinea capitis is a highly contagious infection that can give rise to epidemics, especially in the community (schools, orphanages, kindergartens, etc.).
The transmission of ringworm of the head is favored by poor hygiene and overcrowding conditions, and can be achieved by sharing headgear, brushes, combs, scarves, and pillows. The infection can also occur from infected animals, such as dogs and cats (especially stray puppies), or cows.
The species of dermatophyte responsible for the ringworm of the hair varies according to the geographical locations. In Europe, including Italy, the most frequently implicated is the Microsporum canis, a zoophilic dermatophyte; the inflammation, in this case, is often quite intense (kerion).
The prevention of the infectious process takes place by adopting the common basic hygiene rules; it is therefore necessary to avoid the mixed use of personal items, such as combs, caps, scarves and headgear, washing the hair every two / three days at the most. These rules must be observed with particular attention especially in the event of contagion; in addition, individuals suffering from ringworm of hair must wash contaminated clothing at high temperatures. In addition to scrupulously following the therapy prescribed by your doctor, it is important to check pets and treat them if they have skin lesions. Animals, however, can also be healthy carriers, that is, they do not show any lesion of the hair while being able to transmit ringworm.
Hair ringworm - Drugs for the treatment of Tinea Capitis »
