Who should be screened for tinea capitis?
Many school nurses begin each academic year with schoolwide scalp screenings. A follow up screening takes place after the spring school vacation. If a child is diagnosed with ringworm of the scalp, the child’s physician should screen his or her close contacts including family members, classmates, playmates, busmates and contacts in physical education or competitive sports. Screening is critical because of the highly contagious nature of the infection, and because early detection and treatment are key to slowing the spread of infection and to preventing re-infection.
