what are the symptoms of scalp ringworm?
• Commonly, the infection just looks like severe dandruff on various places on the scalp. This may be mistaken for psoriasis. • Some infections cause patches of hair loss (bald patches) to develop. The bald patches are usually inflamed and very scaly. Small broken-off hairs may remain scattered in the bald patches. • In some cases several painful pustules (boils) develop on the scalp. • A more severe infection develops in a small number of cases. This causes a large ‘boggy’ swelling in a section of the scalp, called a kerion. This can be oozing and tender and, if not treated early, can cause permanent scarring and hair loss. • If you have a severe infection, such as a kerion or pustules, you may develop a fever and the glands in the neck may swell. See www.dermnet.org.nz/fungal/tinea-capitis.html for pictures of scalp ringworm. How is a scalp ringworm diagnosed? Sometimes the symptoms strongly suggest a fungal infection. However, scalp ringworm may be confused with other problems at fi
