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Tinea Capitis — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

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EasyFungal InfectionsTinea CapitisSCE Infectious Diseases

A 30-year-old woman develops tinea capitis. Her 5-year-old daughter also has scalp patches. Microscopy shows endothrix infection. Culture grows Trichophyton tonsurans. What is the treatment?

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Correct answer: A — Oral Terbinafine 250 mg daily for 4 weeks (for adults) — topical treatment alone is insufficient for tinea capitis

Tinea capitis requires systemic antifungal therapy — topical treatment alone cannot penetrate the hair follicle. For Trichophyton tonsurans (the most common cause in the UK, endothrix invasion), oral Terbinafine is first-line (4 weeks for adults; weight-based dosing for children). Griseofulvin is an alternative for 6–8 weeks. Adjunctive antifungal shampoo (Ketoconazole 2%) reduces spore shedding but is NOT sufficient monotherapy. Close contacts (especially children) should be examined and treated if infected. T. tonsurans is not transmitted from animals — it is anthropophilic.

Reference: NICE CKS 2024 – Fungal skin infections; BAD 2023 – Tinea capitis