Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis was a common fungal infection of the scalp in children, especially those of African descent, caused mainly by Trichophyton tonsurans. The infection presented in various forms, including scaling without hair loss, pustular patterns, black dots in alopecia areas, kerions, and scaly patches. Griseofulvin was the primary treatment, but due to increased treatment failures, higher doses were recommended. Newer antifungal agents like terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole offered shorter treatment courses and were generally well-tolerated, with gastrointestinal symptoms as the main side effect. These agents were considered for cases of treatment failure or noncompliance, with fluconazole preferred for younger children and terbinafine for older ones. Adjunctive therapies, such as sporicidal shampoos, were suggested to help reduce infection spread, while the use of corticosteroids for kerions remained controversial.