Fungus Infection of the Scalp in Children Needs at Least Six Weeks of Treatment

October 12 2004 by askdrwong

Q. Our five-year-old son was recently admitted to the hospital with a painful swelling on the top of his head. After some tests the doctor told us that he has a fungal infection and he has to take a medication for six weeks. We live on a dairy farm and he likes to assistout when we milk the cows. A few months before both of us had ringworm on our armament and body. We used a cream that we picked up from the pharmacy and quickly got better. The doctor told us that he likely picked up the infection from our cows but his infection was much more serious than ours. Both of us wonder whether this is at all possible.

A. I have to consent with your doctor. Your son maximumlikely has the medical condition called Tinea capitis. It is a fungal infection of the scalp.

Of the thousands of fungal species in the world about 100 to 200 of them can infect humans. The most common and best known fungus is Candida which causes yeast infections in the mouth (this is called verbalthrush) and in the diaper area of youthfulinfants. Candida can also cause yeast infection in the female genitalia.

More serious fungal infections of the lungs the brain and other internal organs are much less common. They tend to occur in those whose immunity has been suppressed by chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

Fungus infection of the skin on the contrary is fairly common. There are around 40 different species of fungus that can cause skin infection. Some of them can infect humans only while others are present in the soil and we pick up the infection by accident. Many of them however principally infect animals love cats dogs and cattle. Unfortunately when humans arriveinto contact with infected animals we can pick up the fungi and develop skin infections.

Depending on the portionof the body that is infected various medical terms have been used to describe fungal infection of the skin. If the infection is on the scalp it is called Tinea capitis (capitis means head). When the infection is on the body the arms or the legs it is called Tinea coporis. Tinea pedis describes infection of the feet while Tinea manuum means infection of the hands. If infection is restricted to finger and toe nails it is called onychomycosis. So much for medical terminology!

Tinea capitis is an infection that seems to influence kidsonly. The same species may infect adults but they dont cause serious infection on the scalp. However children tend to suffer much more serious scalp infection.

When a person is infected with a fungus it invades the skin by spreading branches between skin cells. These branches are called hyphae. The fungus can reproduce and spread the infection to another person by producing spores. These spores are very hardy and can stay alive for many months.

When the spores land on the skin of a person they become attached to the skin cells and within hours germinate and invade the skin. The initial infection is very unhurriedand it probably takes weeks to establish an infection to the point that one can recognize that an infection is going on.