How is ringworm of the scalp to be distinguished from alopecia areata, favus, eczema, seborrhœa, and psoriasis?
By the peculiar clinical features of ringworm on this region—the slight scaliness, broken hair and hair stumps, with a certain amount of baldness—and in doubtful cases by a microscopical examination of the hairs.
In favus, although the same condition of the hair is noted, the yellow, cup-shaped crusts, and the presence of the atrophic areas in that disease are pathognomonic.
How is ringworm of the bearded region to be distinguished from eczema and sycosis?
By the peculiar lumpiness of the parts, the brittleness of the hair, more or less hair loss, and the history.
The superficial type of ringworm sycosis—those cases in which the disease remains a surface disease—is readily distinguished, as the symptoms are essentially the same as ringworm of non-hairy parts, except that some of the hairs in the areas may become invaded and break off or fall out.
In doubtful cases recourse may be had to microscopical examination.
What is the prognosis of ringworm of these several parts?
When upon the general surface, the disease usually responds rapidly to therapeutical applications; upon the scalp it is always a stubborn affection, and, as a rule, requires several months to a year of energetic treatment to effect a cure. In this latter region the disease will disappear spontaneously as the age of fifteen or sixteen is reached. Tinea sycosis yields in most instances in the course of several weeks or a few months.
Is ringworm of these several parts treated with the same remedies?