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Fungal skin infection - scalp - Management
How should I manage contacts?
- Take samples for microscopy and culture from household members and other people closely associated with the infected person (screening in schools is not necessary). For more information on how to do this, see Investigations.
- Contacts, whether carriers or with clinical infection, should be treated.
- If the person has symptomatic scalp ringworm treat with an oral antifungal medication. For more information, see Treatment.
- If the person is asymptomatic, but is found to be a carrier, seek specialist advice from a dermatologist. Some people with a heavy growth or high spore count on brush culture may require oral antifungal treatment, but others may be treated with selenium sulphide, ketoconazole shampoo, or povidone iodine shampoo.
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