Favus

Favus (Latin for "honeycomb") is a diseaseof the scalp, but occurring occasionally on any part of the skin, and even at times on mucous membranes. The uncomplicated appearance is that of a number of yellowish, circular, cup-shaped crusts (scutula) grouped in patches like a piece of honeycomb, each about the size of a split pea, with a hair projecting in the center. These increase in size and become crusted over, so that the characteristic lesioncan only be seen round the edge of the scab. Growth continues to take place for several months, when scab and scutulumcome away, leaving a shining bare patch destitute of hair. The disease is essentially chronic, lasting from ten to twenty years. It is caused by the growth of a fungus, and pathologically is the reaction of the tissues to the growth. It was the first disease in which a fungus was discovered by J. L. Schönleinin 1839; the discovery was published in a brief note of twenty lines in Millers Archive for that year (p. 82), the fungus having been subsequently named by R. RemakAchorionSchonleinii after its discoverer. The achorion consists of slender, mycelialthreads matted together, bearing oval, nucleated gonidiaeither free or jointed.

The spores would appear to enter through the unbroken cutaneous surface, and to germinate mostly in and around the hair follicleand sometimes in the shaft of the hair. In 1892, two other species of the fungus were described by P. G. Unnaand Frank, the Favus griseus, giving rise to greyish-yellow scutula, and the Favus sulphureus celerior, causing sulfur-yellow scutula of a rapid growth. Favus is commonest among the poorer Jewsof Russia, Poland, Hungary, Galiciaand the East, and among the same class of Mahommedansin Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, Egypt, Algiers, &c. It is not rare in the southern departments of France, in some parts of Italy, and in Scotland. It is spread by contagion, usually from cats, often, however, from mice, fowls or dogs. Lack of personal cleanliness is an almost necessary factor in its development, but any one in delicate health, especially if suffering from phthisis, seems especially liable to contract it. Before treatment can be begun the scabs must be removed by means of carbolized oil, and the head thoroughly cleansed with soft soap. The cure is then brought about by the judicious use of parasiticides. If the nails are affected, avulsion will probably be needed before the disease can be reached.

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, a publication in the public domain.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favus Wikipedia article Favus.