Contagious Hair Fungus

Tinea capitis is a type of infection that results from ringworm, a fungus that is similar to mold, appearing on a person's scalp. This type of infection is most common in children that have not yet reached puberty, according to MedlinePlus.

Causes

• People who have bad hygiene practices, frequently have a wet scalp because of sweating or another reason and/or have an injury to their scalp or the skin on their head have an increased risk of developing tinea capitis.

Spread

• Tinea capitis can be spread through direct person-to-person contact, contaminated animals, combs or brushes, hats, clothes, blankets, towels and other objects.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of tinea capitis include brittle hair, a dry scalp, black dots on the scalp, bald spots, an itchy scalp, scaly or reddened areas on the scalp and pus-filled lesions on the scalp.

Diagnosis

• Doctors often use a physical examination and medical history to diagnose tinea capitis. Sometimes dermatologists use a Wood's lamp exam, where they use a device that emits ultraviolet light to examine a patient's scalp. Some doctors take a hair sample from patients and look at it under a microscope for the presence of fungi.

Treatment

• Usually patients with tinea capitis are prescribed oral antifungal medications, such as griseofulvin, terbinafine hydrochloride, terbinafine or itraconazole, or antifungal shampoos with ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, according to MedlinePlus and the Mayo Clinic.