Follow-up Studies of Patients Treated by X-Ray Epilation for Tinea Capitis

Abstract

Tinea capitis is one of the most common fungal diseases of children. It has been a major public health problem in many countries and is especially prevalent in low socioeconomic groups (1). In the United States, tinea capitis was relatively uncommon until a major epidemic occurred throughout the country during World War II (2). Treatment for ringworm of the scalp by X-ray epilation was introduced by Sabouraud in 1904 and standardized by Kienbock in 1907 (3) and Adamson in 1910 (4). The purpose of the epilation was to permit effective fungal decontamination of the scalp. Before the Adamson-Kienbock X-ray procedure was introduced, epilation was done manually. Exposure of the scalp produced complete epilation in approximately two to three weeks which lasted one to two months (5). X-ray epilation proved to be much superior to the alternative forms of topical therapy and was widely used until the introduction of griseofulvin in 1958. No accurate figures exist for the total number of children treated by X-ray epilation during the one-half century of its use. On a worldwide basis, it is possible that as many as 200,000 children have received this form of irradiation (1).