How do you treat scalp kerion?
A kerion is treated with oral antifungal medicines because the fungus grows deep into the hair follicle where topical creams and lotions cannot penetrate. Scalp ringworm and kerion usually require at least 6–8 weeks of treatment with oral antifungal pills or syrup, including: Griseofulvin.
What is a kerion on scalp?
Kerion is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis characterized by swelling and alopecia of the scalp, which could be mistaken as bacterial infection. It occurs most frequently in children.
What causes kerion of the scalp?
A kerion is an abscess caused by fungal infection. It most often occurs on the scalp (tinea capitis), but it may also arise on any site exposed to the fungus such as face (tinea faciei) and upper limbs (tinea corporis). It is often misdiagnosed as bacterial infection.
What does a kerion feel like?
In some cases, ringworm of the scalp causes kerion — a severe, painful inflammation of the scalp. Kerion appears as soft, raised swellings that drain pus and cause thick, yellow crusting on the scalp. Instead of breaking, the hair falls out or can be easily pulled out.
Should kerion be drained?
Large kerions need to be drained under general anesthesia and managed by dermatology. Large kerions should be left alone and referred to dermatology. They often may reappear in a few months, and can be very troublesome for the patient.
Are Kerions painful?
It usually appears as raised, spongy lesions, and typically occurs in children. This honeycomb is a painful inflammatory reaction with deep suppurative lesions on the scalp. Follicles may be seen discharging pus.
Should you drain a kerion?
Can you drain a kerion?
How do you drain a scalp abscess?
Abscess drainage is usually a safe and effective way of treating a bacterial infection of the skin. A doctor will numb the area around the abscess, make a small incision, and allow the pus inside to drain. This, and sometimes a course of antibiotics, is really all that’s involved.
How can I treat a scalp infection at home?
Home remedies
- Try diluting apple cider vinegar in equal parts with water to help loosen dead skin and reduce inflammation. Shop for apple cider vinegar online.
- Coconut oil is thought to have antifungal properties.
- Essential oils may have antimicrobial properties that may help a scalp yeast infection.
What antibiotic is used for scalp infection?
Topical antibiotics such as fusidic acid, clindamycin, or mupirocin may be needed to help with the overgrowth of bacteria.
What does a kerion on the scalp look like?
It most often occurs on the scalp ( tinea capitis ), but it may also arise on any site exposed to the fungus such as face ( tinea faciei) and upper limbs ( tinea corporis ). It is often misdiagnosed as bacterial infection. What does a kerion look like? A kerion presents as a boggy pus -filled lump, often several centimetres in diameter.
Where do you find kerion on the body?
A kerion is most commonly found on the scalp and can be associated with localised hair loss (alopecia). Tinea is a general term to describe a fungal skin infection, and is classified according to which part of the body is infected.
Can a kerion cause hair loss in a child?
Rare cases may cause an id reaction (autoeczematization) of the head and neck area. The clinical presentation of a prepubertal child with one or more deep abscesses on the scalp, with hair loss, is concerning for a kerion.
What should I do if I have kerion in my hair?
All too frequently, a kerion may be confused with a bacterial abscess and treated with oral antibiotics or, worse, with incision and drainage. Broken hairs can be plucked and examined with potassium hydroxide (KOH) for hyphae and spores on or within hair shafts.