Trichoscopic Predictors of Treatment Response in Tinea Capitis: A Prospective Study

Launched by ISTANBUL MEDENIYET UNIVERSITY · Jun 27, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how changes seen through a special microscope called a trichoscope—which helps doctors closely examine hair and scalp—can show how well treatment is working for children and teenagers with a fungal infection of the scalp called tinea capitis. Researchers want to find out if certain signs seen under the microscope can tell when the infection is gone, whether more severe signs at the start mean treatment might take longer or be less successful, and if different types of fungus respond differently to the same medicine.

Children and teens aged 0 to 18 with confirmed tinea capitis based on lab tests may join the study. They will take an oral antifungal medicine called terbinafine for about 4 weeks, with the dose depending on their weight. Participants will visit the clinic every 4 weeks for checkups, where their scalp will be examined with the trichoscope, scalp samples will be taken to test for fungus, and symptoms like itching or redness will be checked. The study will help doctors understand which scalp changes are best at predicting whether the infection is truly gone, aiming to improve how treatment is monitored in young patients with this condition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age between 0 and 18 years
• • Clinical and trichoscopic findings compatible with tinea capitis
• • Laboratory confirmation of tinea capitis (positive potassium hydroxide \[KOH\] smear and/or fungal culture)
• • Eligible for systemic antifungal treatment with terbinafine
• • Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age over 18 years
• • Negative KOH smear and negative culture
• • Current use of immunosuppressive therapy or presence of severe systemic illness (e.g., malignancy, HIV, organ transplant)
• • Contraindication to terbinafine treatment
• • Poor compliance or unwillingness to attend follow-up visits
• • Coexisting dermatologic conditions in the affected scalp area (e.g., seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, lichen planus)