Tinea capitis

Trichophyton tonsurans is now a major cause of tinea capitis, affecting both children and adults. The characteristic lesions are pruritic, scaling patches with black dots; Wood's light examination is negative. Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouini, formerly the most frequent causes of tinea capitis, predominantly affect children and are Wood's light positive. Lesions caused by M. canis are inflammatory, while those of M. audouini are scaly. All three organisms respond to griseofulvin.