Tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton rubrum in a 67-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Trichophyton rubrum is the most common cause of tinea pedis, onychomycosis, tinea manuum, tinea cruris, and tinea corporis in the United States, 1-3 but it rarely causes tinea capitis in this country. l, 4 Tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum seldom invades hair. However, endothrix, ectothrix, and rarely endoectothrix infections can occur. Kerion formation has also been reported.v? Tinea capitis is uncommon in adults.' Dermatophytes causing tinea capitis in adults include Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton violaceum. Trichophyton verrucosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and rarely Trichophyton rubrum.5, 8 Secretion of sebum and colonization by Pityrosporum orbiculare help to protect the scalp against invasion by dermatophytes.v! When tinea capitis does occur in adults, it is most frequent in postmenopausal women.I We report a case of tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum in a 67-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We believe this chronic disease made her a susceptible target for this unusual dermatophytosis.