skip to main content

Tinea capitis — SCE Dermatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardInfectious diseaseTinea capitisSCE Dermatology

Four pupils in one primary-school class have culture-confirmed Trichophyton tonsurans tinea capitis. A fifth child has started oral terbinafine plus ketoconazole shampoo and is otherwise well. What attendance advice is most appropriate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Allow attendance once oral treatment and medicated shampoo have started

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · D = shown as C · A = shown as D · B = shown as E

A is correct. BAD advice permits school attendance once an affected child has started an oral antifungal and medicated shampoo. Clinical alopecia and scale can persist after infectivity has fallen, while culture conversion may lag, so neither is a sensible exclusion endpoint. A cluster should prompt notification, examination and—in larger classroom clusters—organised testing, but asymptomatic classmates are not automatically given systemic terbinafine. Adjunctive shampoo reduces spore carriage but cannot cure infected hair without systemic therapy. Household contacts, shared hair equipment and barbers should be considered as potential reservoirs.

Reference: British Association of Dermatologists: tinea capitis: https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/tinea-capitis