Tineas: Superficial Dermatophyte Infections
November 1998
in “
Pediatrics in review
”
TLDR For hair fungal infections, take oral antifungals; for skin and nail infections, use topical antifungals, and keep affected areas cool and dry.
The document from 25 years ago, authored by David H Stein from the Department of Dermatology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, discussed the prevalence and nature of dermatophyte infections, specifically tineas. Dermatophytes, a group of about 40 fungal species, cause superficial infections known as dermatophytoses, ringworm, or tinea. These fungi invade keratin, the protein that forms the outermost epidermis, the nails, and hair. Tineas were among the most common reasons for pediatrician visits. Dermatophyte infection of the scalp (tinea capitis) and the general body surface (tinea corporis) were very common during childhood.
