Concept of Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis, a fungal infection affecting hair follicles primarily in prepubertal children, is challenging to treat due to the limited efficacy of current antifungal medications and its ability to mimic other scalp conditions. This review highlights that Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum canis are the most common pathogens causing tinea capitis, presenting clinically as ectothrix and endothrix infections. Terbinafine therapy was found to be the most effective treatment, offering the highest cure rate in the shortest time. Non-commercial diagnostic kits were more specific and sensitive than commercial real-time PCR kits. The infection can be confused with conditions such as trichotillomania, alopecia areata, and several dermatitis and psoriasis variants. The study suggests the use of allylamines and imidazole as common antifungal treatments and recommends employing PCR targeting the 28S rDNA gene for improved diagnosis, alongside promoting good personal and environmental hygiene practices through health education.