Tinea Capitis

 

(Figures 4.23D and 4.24A)
  • Common dermatophyte infection in scalp of children
  • Two types: endothrix and ectothrix
  • T. tonsurans (endothrix) most common cause; second most common is M. canis (highly inflammatory) and M. auodouinii
  • Ectothrix: fungal spores coat outside of hair and cuticle destroyed; may or may not fluoresce with Wood’s light (365 nm, mercury lamp with nickel chromium oxide filter)

  •    
     
     
    Fluorescent ectothrix
    Nonfluorescent ectothrix
     
    M. canis
    T. mentagrophytes
     
    M. audouinii
    T. verrucosum
     
    M. distortum
    T. rubrum
     
    M. ferrugineum
    T. megnini
     
    M. gypseum (sometimes)
    M. nanum
     
    T. schoenleinii
        
         
      Fluorescent: Cats And Dogs Fight and Growl Sometimes (due to pteridine )  
         
     
       

  • Endothrix: spores within hair shaft, cuticle intact, hairs can break at surface (“black dot” tinea)
    • T. rubrum (causes both endo/ecto), T. gourvilli, T. yaounde, T. tonsurans, T. soudanense, T. violaceum

         
       
      Endothrix: Ringo Gave Yoko Two Squeaky Violins
       
         
Figure 4.23 A: Tinea barbae (Courtesy of Dr. Marcus Henrique de Sousa Brito Xavier, Brazil) B: Tinea faciei (Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz) C: Tinea faciei D: Tinea capitis (Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz)
Figure 4.23
A: Tinea barbae
(Courtesy of Dr. Marcus
Henrique de Sousa
Brito Xavier, Brazil
)
B: Tinea faciei
(Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz)
C: Tinea faciei D: Tinea capitis
(Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz)
Figure 4.24 A: Tinea capitis (Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz) B: Tinea pedis, interdigital C: Onychomycosis
Figure 4.24
A: Tinea capitis
(Courtesy of Dr. Paul Getz)
B: Tinea pedis, interdigital
C: Onychomycosis
  • Favus: rare variant of endothrix with yellow cup-shaped crusting (scutula) on scalp; arthroconidia and airspaces within hair shaft
    • T. schoenleinii, T. violaceum, M. gypseum
  • Kerion: variant of endothrix with boggy inflammatory plaques, ± scarring alopecia
  • Treatment: oral antifungal for at least 2 months