Tinea capitis


Is tinea capitis contagious?
Tinea capitis is contagious and has a relatively strong infectivity. It is especially prone to infect infants, children, and people with compromised immune functions due to underlying diseases. It can be spread through contact, including both direct and indirect contacts. For instance, sharing towels or other personal hygiene items can lead to infection, and contact with animals such as cats or dogs that have dermatophytosis can also transmit the disease.


Pathways of transmission of tinea capitis
Tinea capitis is a type of superficial fungal infection of the skin, primarily affecting the scalp and hair. The transmission routes for tinea capitis primarily include direct contact or indirect contact. It can be transmitted through direct contact with other tinea capitis patients or animals, as well as through indirect contact with items such as towels, pillows, combs, and scissors used by others. Therefore, it is important to maintain cleanliness and avoid sharing personal items, especially with others who have tinea capitis.


What should I do if my scalp ringworm clears up but then comes back?
Tinea capitis keeps recurring because it is difficult to cure and tends to relapse. To prevent this condition from occurring again, the following suggestions are offered. First, items that are in close contact such as contaminated clothing, hats, pillows, and bedding should be disinfected by boiling or sun exposure. Additionally, areas affected by fungal infections should be disinfected and sterilized. Lastly, patients with tinea capitis should receive antifungal treatment.


Is tinea capitis a skin disease?
Tinea capitis, a type of skin disease, is a superficial fungal infection treated in the dermatology department and is commonly seen in children. There are four types of tinea capitis: yellow tinea, white tinea, black tinea, and pus tinea. It spreads through contact, including both indirect and direct contact, and is highly contagious. For those diagnosed with tinea capitis, treatments such as hair plucking and antifungal medications are recommended (medication should be used under the guidance of a physician).


Tinea Capitis Clinical Symptoms
Tinea capitis varies in clinical symptoms depending on its classification. If it is yellow tinea, it presents as yellow crusts on the scalp, with ulcers or erosion visible beneath the crusts. If it is white tinea, white scaly patches can be seen, generally with clear boundaries that may merge. If it is black dot tinea, hair breaking off shortly after emerging from the scalp appears as small black dots. If it is pustular tinea, the scalp shows redness and swelling with pus formation.


Can tinea capitis be transmitted through hands?
Tinea capitis, the disease in question, is transmissible through hands. It is a superficial fungal infection primarily affecting the scalp and hair, mainly caused by pathogens such as Microsporum ferrugineum and Trichophyton schoenleinii. Transmission can occur through contact with objects like hats, pillowcases, and towels that have been used by others. Additionally, if one has tinea manuum (fungal infection of the hand), it can also lead to the spread of tinea capitis.


Foods to avoid with tinea capitis
Patients with tinea capitis need to avoid certain foods in their diet. First, do not eat foods that are high in fat, such as fatty meats and lard. Secondly, avoid spicy and irritating foods, as consuming overly spicy and irritating foods can increase dandruff and cause scalp itching, aggravating tinea capitis. Finally, do not eat chili peppers, mustard, raw onions, raw ginger, and alcoholic beverages, and be sure to maintain cleanliness and actively treat tinea capitis.


What are the symptoms of tinea capitis?
Tinea capitis commonly presents with numerous symptoms, such as an abundance of dandruff, itchy scalp, formation of crusty pustules, and scaling. There are four types of tinea capitis, each differing slightly in symptoms. For example, yellow tinea can lead to atrophic scarring and permanent hair loss; white tinea typically causes brittleness of hair, eczematous or herpetic lesions; black tinea often leaves behind follicular damage and scarring; finally, pustular tinea can lead to secondary bacterial infections with exudation and lesion formation.


Does tinea capitis require dietary restrictions?
For the disease of tinea capitis, it is definitely necessary to avoid certain foods. Firstly, one must not drink alcohol, as it is a stimulant that can worsen the itching symptoms of tinea capitis; secondly, patients with tinea capitis should avoid foods that cause flare-ups such as seafood and mangoes; furthermore, patients should avoid spicy and stimulating foods, greasy foods, and fried foods, such as spicy hot pot, barbecue, raw ginger, raw onions, and raw garlic.


What shampoo is used for tinea capitis?
Tinea capitis is a highly contagious skin disease. If you are affected by tinea capitis, it is recommended to choose shampoos containing antifungal medications, such as ketoconazole shampoo. This disease is caused by a fungal infection and must be treated promptly. In addition to selecting the appropriate shampoo, you can also combine oral medicines and topical treatments. Diet should be light, avoiding foods that are overly stimulating or "fa-wu" (likely to exacerbate symptoms).