Tinea capitis

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Classification according to ICD-10
B35.0 Tinea barbae and tinea capitis
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)
Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis ("ringworm") is a dermatophytosis (syn. Tinea ) in the hairy scalp area (Latin caput , head '). It occurs mainly in children before puberty. Dermatophytoses in the area of ​​the whiskers are known as tinea barbae .

Pathogen

Tinea capitis is triggered by anthropophilic dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum , Trichophyton violaceum , Trichophyton tonsurans and, in Africa, also Trichophyton soudanense . The Erbgrind ( tinea capitis profunda ) is caused by Trichophyton schoenleinii . Zoophiles, i.e. triggers of tinea capitis transmitted from animals to humans, are Trichophyton mentagrophytes , Trichophyton verrucosum and Microsporum canis .

Microsporum canis currently dominates in Europe and Trichophyton tonsurans in the USA .

Clinical picture

The clinical appearance depends on the pathogen and the immune status. Mild forms show up in circular, flaky changes with hair loss. The disease caused by zoophilic pathogens is usually more severe and can be characterized by strong inflammatory reactions up to and including kerion celsi . Infections with Trichophyton tonsurans usually have no visible symptoms in adults.

Treatment and prevention

Antimycotics are usually used for treatment , both locally and systemically. The duration of treatment can be up to three months. Historically, tinea capitis was also treated with ionizing radiation, which went down in history in Israel as the ringworm affair .

Preventive measures include avoiding the communal use of combs, brushes and towels as well as hygienic precautions when handling animals.

literature

  • Andreas Plettenberg, Wilhelm Meigel, Helmut Schöfer (Hrsg.): Infectious diseases of the skin. Basics, diagnostics and therapy concepts for dermatologists, internists and pediatricians. 3rd, completely revised edition. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart a. a. 2010, ISBN 978-3-13-137733-3 , pp. 191-193.