Shirakumo

A common name for superficial scalp tinea or tinea capitis. This is a skin disease caused by a fungus that infests scalp hair, and is most prevalent in children, especially school-age boys. Many circular, clearly demarcated, powdery white lesions the size of a fingernail appear on the head, and the hair in the affected areas becomes discolored, short, brittle, and easily falls out, and becomes sparse. There is little itching. Microscopic examination reveals tinea fungus in the diseased hair and in the skin of the affected areas.

[Nonami Eiichiro]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

頭部浅在性白癬(はくせん)または頭部白癬の俗称。頭髪に糸状菌が寄生して生ずる皮膚病で、小児ことに男子学童に好発する。頭部に境界明瞭(めいりょう)な指の爪(つめ)大の円形の白く粉を吹いたような病変が多発し、病変部の毛髪は色があせ、短く折れたり抜けやすくなって、毛がまばらになる。かゆみはほとんどない。顕微鏡検査で、病毛や病変部の皮膚の中に白癬菌が証明される。

［野波英一郎］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例