favus
Noun: A specific, contagious fungal disease affecting the scalp and sometimes the skin or nails, characterized by the formation of yellow, cup-shaped crusts and potentially leading to scarring and permanent hair loss. It is caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton.
The word "favus" is a medical/clinical term. It is used as a singular, countable noun to name the disease itself. * Diagnosis: "The dermatologist confirmed a case of favus." * General reference: "Favus is less common in industrialized nations."
- The distinctive yellow crusts, known as scutula, are a hallmark of favus.
- Before modern antifungals, favus was a major cause of scarring alopecia in endemic regions.
- Public health initiatives have helped reduce the incidence of favus.
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe related concepts, e.g., "favus infection," "favus lesions."
- In historical medical texts, "favus" might be used more broadly for similar-appearing crusting conditions.
- Favic (adjective): Pertaining to or affected by favus. (e.g., "favic hair," meaning hair infected with the favus fungus).
- Tinea favosa: A synonym for favus, using the broader "tinea" classification for fungal skin infections.
- Tinea favosa
"Favus" refers specifically to the chronic infection caused by Trichophyton schoenleinii and related fungi. It is a subset of dermatophyte (ringworm) infections but is clinically distinct from other forms of tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) due to its unique presentation with scutula.
- a contagious fungal infection of the scalp; occurs mainly in Africa and the Middle East