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Trichoscopy as a Diagnostic Tool for Tinea Capitis: A Prospective, Observational Study.
Pradeep Kumar1, Deepika Pandhi1, Sambit Nath Bhattacharya1
1Department of Dermatology and STD, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India.
International Journal of Trichology
|July 21, 2020
Summary
Trichoscopy is an effective tool for diagnosing tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) in children. Combining specific trichoscopic findings significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for this common pediatric infection.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Tinea capitis is the most common fungal infection affecting children's scalps.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of tinea capitis are crucial to prevent its spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document trichoscopic features of tinea capitis.
- To correlate these features with clinical presentation, microscopy, and fungal culture.
- To establish diagnostic criteria for tinea capitis using trichoscopy.
Main Methods:
- Trichoscopy was performed on 98 pediatric patients diagnosed with tinea capitis.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via microscopy (KOH) or fungal culture (SDA).
- Trichoscopic findings were compared with clinical type, invasion pattern, and causative agent.
Main Results:
- The black dot variant was most common, often caused by *Trichophyton violaceum*.
- Key trichoscopic findings included black dots, comma hairs, short broken hairs, corkscrew hairs, and perifollicular scaling.
- A combination of perifollicular scaling with comma, short broken, and black dot hairs achieved 98.97% diagnostic sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Trichoscopy, particularly the combination of perifollicular scaling and specific dystrophic hair types, is a valuable diagnostic method for tinea capitis.
- Horse-shoe hair is a newly observed trichoscopic finding in tinea capitis that warrants further investigation.
