Scabies & Tinea

Key points

• Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei): intense itch (worse at night), burrows in finger webs/wrists/waist/genitals; treat with permethrin 5% (whole body incl. scalp in infants/elderly, repeat at 7 days) + treat all contacts.
• Tinea (ringworm): annular scaly lesion with active edge and central clearing — tinea corporis; terbinafine cream/oral by site.
• Tinea capitis: scalp scaling + alopecia (kerion = boggy inflamed mass) — needs ORAL antifungals.
• Tinea unguium (onychomycosis): confirm with nail clippings before long oral terbinafine course.
• Candidal intertrigo: moist flexural erythema with satellite lesions.

Decision points in this pathway

• Scalp involvement with alopecia/kerion?

The full step-by-step algorithm, including what to do at each branch, opens in the app for approved members.