Scalp Ringworm: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Scalp Ringworm: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Scalp ringworm is a fungal infection which affects the scalp of humans, especially children. Read on for more information regarding the causes, symptoms and treatment of this disease.
Scalp ringworm or tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp, which can cause bald patches accompanied with redness and itching. This infection is common in children in the age group of 4 to 14, but adults can also get affected. Scalp ringworm can be severe in people with a weak immune system like those affected by AIDS or cancer. According to some studies, 6% to 8% of the population of the United States is affected by scalp ringworm.
Causes
Fungi called as ‘dermatophytes’, which cause ringworm, can be found in animals, humans, and soil. The spores of this fungi can spread to humans in various ways. It can be through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects, like a comb, towel, hairbrush, bed and pillows, clothing, etc. Mere contact may or may not cause the infection but, if you have any cuts or injury on the scalp, there is every chance of getting infected. In some cases, this infection is spread to human from animals, especially pets. Some people do not get infected with the disease, but they may be mere carriers. They may pass the fungi to others, who may experience the symptoms. There are reports of rare cases of scalp ringworm outbreaks in a particular area or in schools. It is believed that sebum (skin oil), produced by the body after puberty, helps fight this infection in adults.
Symptoms
One of the common symptoms of scalp ringworm, is the round or oval-shaped patches of reddened and itchy skin. The disease got its name from the ring-like appearance of these patches. Other than these patches, the disease can cause scaling of the skin, pain, hair loss and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck. The pattern of the patches and other symptoms depend on the type of fungi.
If it is the ‘inflammatory ringworm’, the infection is caused by fungi carried by animals or from soil. In this case, the area affected contains abscesses or kerions, which are swollen hair follicles that are covered with pustules. This can be accompanied by fever, itching and pain and can result in permanent scarring or hair loss. In case of ‘black dot ringworm’, the disease is caused by ‘Trichophyton’, which is the most common type of fungi causing scalp ringworm in the United States. This infection affects the shaft of the hair, making it brittle. This hair breaks off from the scalp and leaves the remaining part in the follicle itself. The infected area looks like patches with black dots. The infection got its name (black dot ringworm) from this appearance. Another type of scalp ringworm is the ‘gray patch ringworm’, caused by the organism called ‘microsporum’. In this case, the infection starts around the hair shaft and causes small red bumps. Then, it spreads outward and results in a dry, scaly ring-like patch. The hair in this area may appear gray and brittle. Hair loss and itching are also common. This infection, once common in the U.S., is now the main cause of scalp ringworm in some European countries.
Treatment
Antifungal medication is the most common treatment for scalp ringworm. For better and faster results, oral medications along with medicines for topical application and shampoos containing selenium, povidone-iodine or ketoconazole are prescribed. If the infected person has severe inflammation of the scalp, then oral steroids are also suggested.
Since scalp ringworm is an infectious disease, and is persistent, it is necessary to maintain personal hygiene as a precautionary measure. Avoid contact with infected people or objects used by them. Check your pets for symptoms of ringworm. Once, infected, seek medical advice at the earliest, which can avoid further spread of the disease.
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By Sonia Nair Published: 6/5/2009 |
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