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What is Tinea Capitis?
Tinea capitis is a type of fungal infection, also called as ringworm of the scalp is a highly contagious infection. It most often affects children and goes away at puberty. However, it can occur at any age.Recovery Time
Ringworm heals very slowly it can take more than a month to see any improvement. Be patient and continue taking all medication as directed.Diagnosis
A visual exam is often enough for a doctor to diagnose ringworm of the scalp. A scraping of the fungi can be taken for microscopic checks and cultivation to identify it.FAQs prepared by doctor
Q1. What is tinea capitis?Tinea, the Latin word for worm, describes the serpentine nature of the skin lesions and is a less confusing designation that is used in conjunction with the name of the body part affected e.g., tinea capitis (head).
Q2. Who are more prone for this infection?
It most often affects children and goes away at puberty. However, it can occur at any age.
Q3. What to do if someone is suffering from this condition?
One shall wear thin, light and loose clothes, wash the affected area daily and dry it well afterward. After showering, towel your body first and ringworm affected areas last. Cover your ringworm infected areas with a sterile bandage or some clothing, while you are with people to prevent contamination of the infection.
Q4. When shall one consult a physician?
A patch of hair loss with black dots on the scalp or dry, scaly patches on the scalp or severe itching on the scalp are the conditions when one shall make a visit.
Q5. Is the hair loss permanent?
No, it is a kind of non-scarring alopecia. In the case of non-scarring alopcia, the hair shaft is gone, but the follicles are still present. It often is reversible.