Parents Urged to Monitor Children for Fungal Infection of the Scalp

Parents are being reminded to ensure that children with rashes on their scalp are taken to a doctor to be assessed and adequately treated to prevent the spread of the tinea capitis infection.

The call comes from Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, as she gave a report during Thursday’s (March 12) sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation.

According to Dr. Lewis, tinea capitis infections, which are fungal infections of the scalp, increased in Portland during the month of February with 23 cases reported, compared with 10 cases in January.

The infection is highly contagious and common in children, and is characterised by itchy, scaly bald patches and broken hairs.

“Tinea capitis requires oral treatment, that is taking the medication by mouth, in addition to topical treatment, that’s whether using shampoos or things on the scalp. The duration of the oral treatment should be for roughly six weeks and there must be strict compliance with the treatment,” the Medical Officer advised.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lewis said that the Portland Health Department continues to prioritise the childhood immunisation programme.

“The parish is off to a good start in ensuring the protection of our children from the infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. I encourage the parents, guardians, and school administrators to continue to support our childhood immunisation programme,” she urged.

She also reminded that the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is now part of the schedule of vaccines and is given as one dose to girls and boys between the ages of nine and 14 years.

In Portland, the HPV vaccine is offered during the Health Department’s annual school medical sessions in the summer.

“I encourage parents and guardians to consent to your child or children taking the HPV vaccine at these school medical sessions, so that the females can be protected from cervical cancer later in life and both genders can be protected from cancer of the external genitals and of the anus. Your help is necessary for the health team to achieve the goal of the Ministry of Health and Wellness to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030,” Dr. Lewis said.