Trichophyton violaceum infection of scalp and glabrous skin of an adult.

Abstract

Although Trichophyton violaceum is a common cause of infection of the scalp, beard and nails in Russia, Poland, Italy and the Near East, it is of uncommon occurrence as a cause of tinea capitis in children in the United States. Its occurrence as a cause of tinea capitis in an adult is still rarer. A review of the dermatological literature has revealed only two case reports of this infection in the scalp of an adult in the United States. One was given in a study of 49 adult patients with tinea capitis. 1 The other was the report of a case in an 18 year old white woman who had the infection for at least two years. 2 I have seen two other cases of T. violaceum scalp infection, both of which occurred in children and both of which were cured only after roentgen ray epilation and neither of which