Tinea Capitis Research Paper

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TINEA CAPITIS

The definition of Tinea Capitis is that it is a fungal infection of the scalp and hair shaft that is associated with scaling, pruritus, and hair loss. The treatment for this condition usually evolves an extensive regime of oral antifungal medications along with preventative measures to aid in containing the infection (not spreading). Alos, topical medications to help penetrate hair shaft. This fungal infection is the most common fungal infection for children under the age of twelve. However, this condition may occur at any age it is most prevalent at the ages of three through seven. The causative organism that produces this fungal infection is Trichophyton tonsurans (T. tonsurans), yet Trichophyton, Microsporum, or Epidermophton …show more content…

This condition is uncommon in children, yet having this condition can create psychological distress and predisposes the child to recurrent cutaneous fungal infections. The treatment for this diagnosis is similar to Tinea Capitis in the fact that it includes administering oral antifungal medications for an extensive period of time along with topical applicatons. The term used for fungal infections of the nail is known as onychomycosis. The dermatophte responsible for this is named Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum). This organism usually invades through the plantar skin lateral to the nail, then continues to the underside of the nail. This causes the child's inflammatory response to react resulting in thickening of the nail plate, formation of subungual debris, and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Then it spreads and can become so severe that it causes permanent scarring of the nail matrix. Signs and symptoms of this condition are distal and lateral separation of the nail plate from the nail bed (onycholysis) and accumulation of keratin debris under the nail (subungual hyperkeratosis), and yellowish nail discoloration with thickening of the nail. This is usually diagnosed through laboratory tests by clipping the nail, fungal cultures, and microscopic potassium hydroxide

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