Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis is a superficial dermatophyte infection of the scalp and hair follicles, occurring predominantly in prepubertal children It is primarily caused by fungal species belonging to the genera *Trichophyton* or *Microsporum*, which invade the outer root sheath and hair shaft Pathophysiologically, the condition manifests across a clinical spectrum ranging from noninflammatory scaling with patchy alopecia and broken "black dot" hairs to severe inflammatory presentations, such as painful, su...

Tinea capitis is a superficial dermatophyte infection of the scalp and hair follicles, occurring predominantly in prepubertal children

It is primarily caused by fungal species belonging to the genera *Trichophyton* or *Microsporum*, which invade the outer root sheath and hair shaft

Pathophysiologically, the condition manifests across a clinical spectrum ranging from noninflammatory scaling with patchy alopecia and broken "black dot" hairs to severe inflammatory presentations, such as painful, suppurative nodules known as kerions that carry a risk of permanent scarring alopecia