Patient Story

Disease : Tinea Capitis

Last Updated on : 21 Nov 2020

Case Started on : 27 Sep 2014

Here is the story of a boy who suffered from tinea capitis for 6-7 years
Tinea capitis, also known as ringworm or herpes tonsurans infection, is a fungal infection that may affect the skin, scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes. It is more commonly known as ringworm (not caused by a worm) because when it involves the skin, it causes circular marks on the skin, often with a raised border and flat centre. This can look like there is a worm under the skin.
It is a type of fungus that is easily spread through person-to-person contact or by sharing combs, towels, hats, or pillows. Household pets may also spread the fungus.

The fungus that causes tinea capitis attacks hair shafts and follicles. It weakens the area's hair and leaves it fragile and broken, creating small areas of baldness (alopecia). Tiny black dots on the scalp may also be present.
Tinea capitis is most common in immunocompromised patients and children, particularly those under 10, but it can infect any age. It is also observed in malnourished children.

Dermatophyte fungi thrive on dead tissue, especially that which is warm and moist. A minor injury to the scalp will increase your risk of infection.
There are at least eight different types of dermatophytes that can cause tinea capitis, but the two main species are Trichophyton fungi and Microsporum fungi. Trichophyton infections are more common.

Symptoms can vary from patient to patient. The infection may only be noticed in some people after careful inspection reveals a few broken-off hairs with minimal scaling.
Others patients may develop a severe, painful, inflammatory mass called a KERION. Kerion is found in a specific area, although a larger area can be observed.
There is substantial hair loss in the area, and the remaining hairs can be easily pulled out.
Follicles discharge pus, and swollen lymph nodes may also be present in the neck, mimicking cervical lymphadenitis.
The pus is usually an inflammatory response to the fungus rather than a secondary bacterial infection, although bacteria may occasionally be present.
Itching may or may not be present, but the characteristic symptom is partial hair loss with some degree of inflammation and flaking, which may resemble dandruff. There may be several or many patches of infection.

Symptoms in most people fall into one of three main categories:
Grey patch (scaling with patchy hair loss from hair shafts breaking off above the surface, leaving short stubs).
Black dot (characterized by hair shafts breaking off at the scalp leaving black dots).
Diffuse alopecia.

Diagnosis can be made by clinical examination.
A Wood's lamp test can be advised to confirm the presence of a fungal scalp infection.

Case Study
This patient got our reference from our grateful patient of Alopecia areata.
They visited from Bahraich to our Balrampur centre.
He suffered from a scalp infection for the last 6-7 years.
There occurs dandruff, and that got deposited at the scalp like crust.
The hairs were falling in the small patches. Due to the secondary or superadded infection, lymphatic glands at the neck got enlarged.

The patient visited many dermatologists without any permanent solution. They prescribed oral as well as topical solutions to these infections.
We have started his treatment after a detailed case history on 26 Sep 2014. He made a gradual recovery and got cured.
Almost after 6- 7 years, her mother visited the Balrampur clinic for her treatment. She admitted that she is here at the clinic because his son got cured and never observed any recurrence in the condition.
At the request, she shared the photo of the scalp condition of the patient.

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