Concept of tinea capitis

Abstract

Tinea capitis is a superficial and dermatophytes infection primarily located in the hair follicles and surrounding stratum corneum. The infection is widely disseminated among prepubertal children, difficult to treat due to poor efficacy of available antifungal agents and mimic ailments related to the infection. This study reviewed the current and predominant attributes of tinea capitis including diagnostic measures and therapies against the infection. A Google search was conducted using the key term “Tinea capitis”. The search strategy includes literature reviews, clinical trials, meta-analyses, observational studies and randomized controlled trials. The result showed that Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum canis causes the higher number of tinea capitis cases with ectothrix and endothrix as a clinical manifestation. Terbinafine therapy had the highest cure rate in a short period of time against the infection. Non-commercial kits had the highest specificity and sensitivity than real time PCR commercial kits. The mimic ailments related to infection include trichotillomania, alopecia areata, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and bacterial scalp abscess. Allylamines and imidazole are commonly used antifungal agents against infection. Effective antifungal agents, new methods of diagnosis should be employed such as PCR targeting the 28S rDNA gene for the identification and characterization of etiological agents of tinea capitis, and practice good habits of personal and environmental hygiene should be encouraged through health education and promotion activities.