TLDR New treatments for children's scalp ringworm are recommended based on recent data.
Scalp ringworm, or tinea capitis, is a dermatophyte fungal infection that primarily affects pre-adolescent children in the UK and can lead to alopecia, sometimes permanent. The infection rate in southeast London schools was reported at approximately 2.5% in 1995, and there has been an increase in cases since then. In 1996, it was recommended that an 8–10 week course of oral griseofulvin at a dosage of 10mg/kg body weight was effective in clearing the infection. However, since that time, new data on antifungal drugs have been published, prompting an update in the treatment advice for children with scalp ringworm.
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June 2018 in “Journal of General-Procedural Dermatology & Venereology Indonesia” Skin debridement and antifungals successfully treated severe scalp infection without scarring.
32 citations
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June 2017 in “Journal of infection/The Journal of infection” The document concludes that terbinafine is effective for treating scalp fungal infections in children and recommends not excluding them from school during treatment, while also highlighting the need for updated treatment guidelines due to changing infection patterns.
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July 2010 in “Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology” To treat tinea capitis in children, oral antifungal medication is necessary, with newer drugs offering shorter treatment times than the traditional griseofulvin.
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January 2005 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” Children with scalp fungal infections need proper diagnosis and treatment, usually with antifungal medications, and newer drugs may offer quicker recovery.
156 citations
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September 2014 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Accurate diagnosis and effective oral treatment are key to managing tinea capitis and preventing its spread.
