WHAT IS TINEA CAPITIS?

Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal skin infection, it affects mainly the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair shaft. It causes small patches of itchy, scaly skin on the scalp.

Another name for this condition is ringworm but it is called ring because the fungal infection forms a ring on the scalp with a flat center and raised borders, and the worm doesn't really means a worm but a fungal infection.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR TINEA CAPITIS?

• Moist, damp, or unhygienic place - those persons who stay in damp, moist areas are more prone to developing tinea because the growth of the fungi is high in damp, moist, and unhygienic conditions and can easily spread.
• Communal bath -if many people share common bathing items such as soaps, towels, and undergarments it also increases the chance of getting tinea.
• Overcrowded /or sharing rooms with more people -if many people share one room and if one person is staying with others the chances getting high to transform others 
• Age -ringworm is more common in children and toddlers because those children are school-going and get the infection from the touch of infected children and this is a very common outbreak.
• Exposure to pets- sometimes infection also comes from infected animals if the children touch the animal who suffers from infection without any signs and symptoms.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF TINEA CAPITIS?

• Kerion -if the tinea capitis remains untreated it leads to inflammation of the scalp with severe pain and the formation of pus in the inflammation. It appears as soft raised swelling if the pus is drained it forms a thick, yellow crust on the scalp.
• Hair fall is a major complication of tinea capitis because it weakens the roots of the hair and starts to fall.
• Permanent scarring of the scalp.
• Permanent bald due to kerion 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TINEA CAPITIS?

• Due to infection, causes one or more round patches on the scalp
• Initial the patches are small but gradually increase in size.
• The infected area appears reddened, gray, and scaly
• Hair becomes brittle or fragile leading to easy pulling out of hair 
• The affected area is painful and tender to touch
• Itching on the scalp
• The black spot may be seen due to broken hair leaving the space on the scalp
• Lymph nodes may be swollen due to infection
• Low-grade fever
• The scalp becomes dry, scaly
• Hair matted due to pus

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF TINEA CAPITIS?

Ringworm is a highly contagious infection and easily spread from person to person, it is a fungal infection and it is caused by dermatophytes (a type of fungi ).

Fungi are those organisms that live in dead tissue, such as fingernails, hair, and the outer layer of the skin whenever it gets a favorable environment such as moist, damp or if the immunity becomes weak, it attacks the outer layer of skin on the scalp and the hair shaft and causes fungal infection the skin 

HOW THE FUNGAL INFECTION SPREADS?

• From contaminated article -ringworm spread when the article is used by infected person again contaminated articles used by a healthy persons such as combs, bedding, hairbands, rubbers, or any other article .
• From infected humans - it is also spread by touching infected skin by skin of healthy persons while playing, it is common in school going, children.
• From infected animals - if the infected animals is come in contact while playing with the healthy people it also spread .

DIAGNOSIS OF TINEA CAPITIS

It does not require any major lab investigation, only physical examination and history of symptoms are helpful to make the diagnosis

During physical examination - a round ring is found on the scalp, the skin appears scaly, and also doctor found signs of inflammation such as redness, pain, or tenderness, which are helpful for making the diagnosis.

The physician also takes a sample of skin or hair to confirm the diagnosis, it confirms the presence of fungus by microscopic examination.

A wood lamp test may be performed to confirm the presence of a fungal scalp infection.

Skin biopsy -biopsy of skin lesion also confirms the diagnosis by microscopic examination or culture

TREATMENT OF TINEA CAPITIS

The conventional treatment of tinea is an antifungal medication such as lotions , soaps , creams and shampoos, or maybe sometimes antifungal given orally 

But all these treatment is not permanent and safe, they only suppressed the condition, in homeopathy this condition is cured permanently of the roots and also prevent further relapses.

MANAGEMENT OF TINEA CAPITIS

• Always keeping skin clear and dry because moist condition worsen the condition 
• Regularly shampoo your head it decrease the spread of fungal it helps in removing the dust from your hairs 
• Teach properly about Proper hygiene like washing of hands, never share towels, combs, hats, brushes, hankies , this is the best way of prevention in children.
• Prefer airy rooms and avoid sharing beds rooms and bedsheets.
• Wash the clothes properly with warm water and dry in the sunlight.
• Maintain gap from the infected animals .

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF TINEA CAPITIS

There are various helpful medicine for tinea capitis it not only remove the symptoms but also helps in removing the cause .in this way homeopathy give permanent solutions .but prescription is based on presentation of the case so never take medicine without consulting with a registered homeopath practitioner, some medicine are Sulphur, Rhus tox, mezereum, arsenic album, arctium lappa, Bromium, Calcarea carb, Mercurius, psorinum.

DO'S AND DONT'S

Do’s

• Maintain hygiene of the body 
• Always use airy rooms 
• You can use coconut oil
• Take healthy diet 
• Keep hydrated
• Keep distance from the infected persons and animals

 Don’ts

• Never share personal things such as towels ,combs, hankies, rubber ,bedsheets ,rooms.
• Avoid scratching the affected part  
• Avoid smoking and alcohol
• Avoid contact with infected persons