Tinea Capitis Kerion
Tinea Capitis Kerion
Tinea capitis otherwise known as scalp ringworm is a dermatophyte infection of the scalp. With certain dermatophyte infections like Tinea Capitis kerions are occasionally formed. A kerion is a large, boggy, inflammatory scalp mass caused by a severe inflammatory reaction to the dermatophyte. A kerion may have pustules and crusting and can be mistaken for an abscess. A kerion may also cause scarring and hair loss.
Tinea capitis symptoms and signs vary by the area affected for example the skin, hair, nails etc. Organism virulence and host susceptibility and hypersensitivity determine severity. Most often, there is little or no inflammation; asymptomatic or mildly itching lesions with a scaling, slightly raised border fade and recur sporadically. Occasionally, inflammation is more severe and shows up as sudden vesicular or bullous disease. This is normally of the foot. It may also occur as an inflamed boggy lesion of the scalp called a kerion.
Tinea capitis causes the gradual appearance of round patches of dry scale, alopecia, or both. T. tonsurans infection causes what is called black dot ringworm. With this infection the hair shafts break at the scalp surface. M. audouinii infection causes patch ringworm. The hair shafts break above the surface, leaving short stubs with this particular type of infection. Tinea capitis is less likely to appear as drawn out scaling, like dandruff, or in a spreading pustular patte
What is the most probable explanation for the higher occurrence of Tinea Capitis in the African-American population is that the higher prevalence is more likely due to infection and re-infection within families, communities, and schools. Ringworm of the scalp is most commonly caused by the fungus Trichophyton tonsurans. Trichophyton tonsurans is the most common cause in the US, followed by Microsporum canis and M. audouinii. This fungus is easily passed from one person to another. It is also the cause of more than 90 out of every 100 cases of ringworm of the scalp found in both North and Central America.
Children are far more susceptible to the fungal infection and more likely than adults to develop a tinea capitis infection. It is not unheard of that even after exposure to fungi causing ringworm adults do not develop an infection. Adults can be carriers for ringworm, as well as children, but is less likely that the children carry the infection but show no symptoms. Carriers can pass ringworm on to others but do not have symptoms of the disease.
Tinea Capitis Diagnosis
Tinea Capitis Diagnosis
Tinea capitis symptoms on the scalp may or may not actually lead to a definite tinea capitis diagnosis. It is sometimes hard to tell the source of the fungus or if it is an actual fungal infection. This is a skin disorder that affects children almost exclusively. Tinea capitis is easily and frequently mistaken for other infections. Non-fungal conditions that resemble tinea infections include impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea. Suggestions for prevention include things like keeping the area clean. Using a medicated shampoo, with ingredients like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, may reduce the spread of infection. It may be necessary for other family members and pets to be examined and treated.
There are options that can be explored to help with diagnosis. Some are a skin lesion biopsy with microscopic examination can be done or culture or a Wood’s lamp test to confirm a fungal scalp infection. The Wood’s lamp examination can be useful in evaluating the scope of infection, identifying areas for sampling and determining treatment response when the Tinea capitis diagnosis is positive. The examination can also be useful for looking at the contacts of an infected person.
Most dermatophytes do not fluoresce during examination but there are exceptions to this rule. Two of those exceptions are zoophilic dermatophytes. Zoonotic means the disease can be passed from animals to humans. Cats are more likely to be infected with Tinea capitis of all animals. The skin changes in cats are very similar to those of affected people, but cats can carry the infection without exhibiting obvious signs just like infected humans.
Fungal organisms known as dermatophytes may cause scalp ringworm by infecting certain kinds of tissue found in hair, skin, and nails. It can be persistent as well as contagious. Symptoms may consist of itching, scaly, and inflamed balding areas on the scalp. The specific pattern of fungal scalp ringworm depends on the infecting organisms. Ringworm of the scalp or beard may look like dandruff with flakes of dead skin on the hair or beard. The infection can spread gradually and cover a large area. Oral antifungal medications are required to treat the infection. It is estimated that 3-8% of the population is affected by ringworm in the United States alone. Some people can carry the infection and pass it to others in the household. In other countries, statistics show an estimated 9.6% of people are affected to varying degrees, and nearly 40% can be carriers.
Tinea Corporis Contagious
Tinea Corporis Contagious
The fungi transmitted primarily through contact with animals and is termed zoophile is usually responsible for Tinea corporis contagious infection. Most mammals have at least one type of fungus, and in most instances the animal and fungus coexist without the animal ever manifesting any symptoms of the fungus. This does not mean that the fungus cannot be transmitted to humans. Zoophile is the fungi category in which the infection is passed by animals. There are two other categories of fungi that can cause infections of this type, geophile or fungi from soil sources and anthropophile, which are fungi from humans.
This highly contagious condition can be contracted by coming into direct contact with someone who is infected, or if contaminated items are touched. Because it is highly contagious the fungal infection can be passed from animal to person or person to person easily through contaminated items like clothing, shower or pool surfaces and toiletry items. The term tinea corporis is the medical term for ringworm, which refers to round or oval red scaly patches on the skin. Tinea corporis affects exposed areas but could also spread from other infected sites. Non-fungal conditions that resemble tinea corporis and could be mistaken for the infection include afflictions like impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea.
Ringworm or Tinea corporis infection forms a ring-shaped raised red rash in humans, but it is not the common appearance in animals. Ringworm infections in animals can take on any form. While ringworm can be passed from animals to humans, cats are the most likely of all animals to be infected and pass it on to human contacts. The possible spread of Tinea corporis to humans can also come from other animals, including horses, camels, sheep and cattle. Humans who have direct and repeated contact with animals have a much higher incidence of contracting the fungal infection this way. They are also far more likely to contract a fungal infection or ringworm of the anthropophile variety from places like a school, playground, gym, or shower facilities.
Children seem to be the most vulnerable to Tinea corporis skin infection and can easily pass it around to other children. This does not mean that adults are not immune and they can also become infected. The best way to prevent Tinea corporis infections is by keeping the skin clean and dry, changing socks and underwear each day, and wearing some type of shower shoe or sandal when in public showers or locker rooms.
