Kids don't usually suffer from hair loss. In fact, kids almost always have the thickest and richest hair; they're walking hallmarks of perfect hair. However, there is one condition wherein kids actually experience complete hair loss in some parts of their scalp. When this happens, medical treatment should be carried out immediately.
Common Occurrence
Like other fungal infections, tinea capitis usually affects children that are in close contact with each other. When space is densely populated by children with variable levels of personal hygiene, the proponent of tinea capitis is often passed on easily from one child to another.
Tinea capitis can also manifest itself in adults. However, the bulk of incidences happen in children who have come into contact with infected individuals.
Symptoms
Tinea capitis is quite unpleasant to look at. The beginning phases of fungal colonization resemble ordinary dandruff. Often, the child's head is covered by a blister-like formation that is painful and itchy to the touch. There is also the presence of flakes. Sections of the scalp are also afflicted with round, bald spots.
When a child is affected by tinea capitis, the lymph nodes also react to the fungal infection. Like cases of severe bacterial infection, the lymph nodes also react to the presence of fungi in the body. Try patting behind the ear to see whether the lymph nodes there are showing signs of inflammation.
Diagnosis
The most efficient way of determining whether a child has a fungal infection or not is by culturing a sample of the affected area. A single culture of infected hair is sufficient to determine whether a child indeed has tinea capitis. When viewed under a microscope, the hair culture would show the distinct fungal formations that are conclusive proof of the presence of fungus in the hair.
Treatment
Just like the treatment for severe toenail fungus, oral medication is often prescribed to counter the fungal infection in the hair. Unfortunately, the full treatment of tinea capitis would take many months. There might be a chance that the visible infestation would disappear within a few weeks, but the child has to continue taking the oral medication to prevent recurrences.
Notes On The Severity Of The Alopecia
When tinea capitis is diagnosed early enough, the round, bald patches on the scalp of the child will eventually disappear. The hair will gradually re-grow, depending on how well the child responds to the oral antifungal regimen. If however, the child fails to tell his or her parents early enough, the fungal infection might enter a particularly dangerous phase of sustained inflammation.
When sustained inflammation sets in, permanent damage might take place on the scalp. If this does happen, you have to be prepared for the possibility that the hair on your child's hair will not grow back anymore.
This is why it's so important to check your children's hair regularly, to avoid any unpleasant, permanent effects of such hair conditions. Tinea capitis is a form of scarring hair loss that may cause large bands of scars to form across the affected areas of the scalp.
Brian Alexis is an online medical researcher on hair and skin. There are 14 effective hair loss treatment products on the market that work well. To learn more visit Brian's
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