Page 167 - LECTURE NOTES

8. Teach the family about frequent position and keeping body hygiene and

important of nutrition.

7.9. Fungal Skin Diseases

Fungus infection is a type of skin disease of the body and which would be caused by
organism called fungus.

There are many kinds of fungi. Only a small number cause a disease. Some of the fungi

attack only the skin, but others may attack any part of the body. Fungus infections
usually develop slowly. They may be superficial or deep. The fungus grows and

multiplies in the skin, mucous membrane and hair, which is on the head, foot and body.

Transmission
It can be transmitted directly or indirectly from man to man through skin contact of

infected person or sharing of clothes with an infected person.

7.9.1 Ring worm of the scalp (Tinea capitis)

It is contagious fungal infection of the hair and usually occurs in children.

1. Clinical manifestation

¾ Clinically there is one or several round patches of redness & scaling which are small
pustules or papules seen at the edges of such patches and cause the hair to break

off and fall out

¾ In some untreated cases, it can be associated with infection.

2. Management
1. Use white field, if it is available

2. Keep the head clean

3. Refer the patient
4. Advice the patient not to share towels or combs

161