additional measures for tinea capitis management

Last edited 12/2018

additional measures in tinea capitis management

• exclusion from school
  • some authorities recommend exclusion from school to minimize the potential risk of transmission of infection to unaffected classmates
  • however, most experts consider this impractical and suggest that children receiving appropriate systemic and adjunctive topical therapy should be allowed to attend school or nursery
    
    
• family screening
  • index cases due to the anthropophilic T. tonsurans are highly infectious
  • more than 50% of family members (including adults) may be affected, often with occult disease
  • failure to treat the whole family will result in high recurrence rates
  • hence it is recommend to screen all family members and treat those found positive
    
    
• cleansing of fomites
  • viable spores found in hairbrushes and combs should be cleansed with disinfectant e.g. - babers
  • simple bleach or a 2% aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite containing 16.5% salt are suitable
    
    
• steroids
  • use of corticosteroids (both oral and topical) for inflammatory varieties of tinea capitis (e.g. kerion and severe id reactions) may reduce itching and general discomfort, but is controversial

Reference:

• (1) Fuller LC et al. British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of tinea capitis 2014. Br J Dermatol. 2014;171(3):454-63.