Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Fungal infection - scalp; Infection - fungal - scalp; Tinea of the scalp; Ringworm - scalp
Symptoms
Tinea capitis may involve only parts of the scalp, or all of it. Areas that are infected appear bald with small black dots, due to hair that has broken off.
Round, scaly areas of skin that can be red or swollen (inflamed) may be found, as well as pus-filled sores called kerions.
You may have a low-grade fever of around 100 - 101 °F or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
There is usually
Signs and tests
The appearance of the scalp will make the health care provider suspect tinea capitis. A special lamp called a
The health care provider may swab the area and send it for a culture. However it may take up to 3 weeks to get these results.
Rarely, a
Previous Section
Review Date: 10/04/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center
for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
