L.T. writes in seeming exasperation from Portmore about the problem she is having with scalp infection in her six-year-old son who attends a school in Portmore. The youngster has a scalp fungus which she has treated with medication twice, and still it has recurred once more. She does admit that the last medication was not completed on time as her son spent a few days without medication while visiting out of town. L.T. asks LIFELINE for suggestions to assist her son.

Scalp fungus or Tinea Capitis is extremely prevalent in the developing world where it often exists in endemic proportions. It is a disease seen mainly in children and can cause inflammation and crusting on the scalp. The hair shafts are also invaded by the organism and alopecia (hair logs) can occur around the hair root. The amount of inflammation which occurs on the scalp varies from individual to individual.

Tinea Capitis is a contagious disease which can easily reach epidemic proportions in some communities if an outbreak is not managed properly. As it occurs most often in children, the places where children congregate such as schools, playgrounds and tenement yards could see an increase in the disease.

Reinfection

As L.T.'s son has a recurrence of the scalp infection, either it was not treated adequately at first or reinfection has occurred. The class teacher and even the school nurse should be informed of the problem. All the students in L.T.'s son's class should have their scalps examined and where infection is found the parents should be notified. The child should not return to school without a note from their doctor stating that they have commenced treatment.

As the Tinea Capitis fungus invades the hair roots, topical 'rub on' treatments do not result in a proper cure. When the visible hair is treated, the hair continues to grow and the newly exposed hair shaft is infected with the fungus and starts to spread out once more. Because of this, internal, ingested, anti-fungal treatment is the key to adequately treating scalp fungus. Topical cream, lotions and gels will rarely work on their own without the oral preparations which usually need to be taken continuously for several weeks.

The old and relatively inexpensive medication, Griseofulcin, still works quite well in the treatment of Tinea Capitis but a number of newer preparations are also available which work well and work faster. These would include prescribed drugs such as Lamasil, Terbisil, Spormox, Ketacemozale and Fluconazole.

Some of these drugs, however, are not available to the paediatric group.

L.T. should check that the children with whom her son plays at home and at school do not have the fungus for him to become reinfected after he has been treated. She should speak with her son's class teacher and her neighbours if necessary. Scalp fungus can also be contracted at times from pets such as dogs and cats and also from cattle. So pets may also need to visit a vet!

Write Lifeline

P.O. Box 1731

Kgn 8.