Common Dermatophyte Infection Research Articles

Trichoscopic Study on Tinea Capitis: A Hospital Based Study

Introduction: Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp and hair shaft, most commonly observed in children. Trichoscopy is nonivasive tool which helps in early diagnosis and prompt treatment of tinea capitis. Objectives: This study was carried out with the aim to describe the trichoscopic features of tinea capitis and to find out its different clinical variants with the aid of trichoscopy. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital based cross sectional descriptive study conducted from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. All patients clinically diagnosed with tinea capitis were included in the study. Result: A total of 50 patients with tinea capitis were recruited. The most common age group was found to be 6-10 years (52%) and 27 patients (54%) were female. Majority of the population were students, i.e. 46 patients (92 %). Family history was positive in 38% of cases. The clinical variants seen were black dots in 20 patients (40%), followed by gray patch in 15 patients (30%), kerion in 8 patients (16%) and combined type (both gray patch and black dots) in 4 patients (8%). The most common trichoscopic feature were black dots in 40 (80%), followed by comma hairs in 38 (76%), corkscrew hairs in 33 (66%), and broken hairs in 24 (48%). Conclusion: This study highlighted that the use of trichoscopy as non-invasive tool helped in diagnosing the cases of tinea capitis without the use of wood’s lamp and laboratory investigations.

Photodynamic therapy of tinea capitis in children using curcumin loaded in nanospanlastics: A randomized controlled comparative clinical study

Tinea capitis is a common scalp dermatophyte infection in children. Treatment necessitates oral antifungal therapy which represents a therapeutic challenge. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a new antifungal therapeutic approach. The efficacy of PDT depends on the proper choice of the photosensitizer and its delivery system. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, is well studied as a photosensitizer, however, its hydrophobicity hinders its clinical use. This study aims to improve the use of curcumin in PDT by loading it to a novel vesicular nano spanlastics (NVS) and examine their efficacy in PDT of tinea capitis.A prospective, randomized, controlled comparative study was conducted. Fifty-two children with Tinea Capitis were randomly divided into four groups; Cur-PDT group, oral griseofulvin group, topical curcumin group, and blue light group. Clinical and dermoscopic assessments were done, at baseline, every two weeks and after 6 months for follow-up. The results were confirmed by potassium hydroxide (KOH) 10% and fungal culture before and after the treatment. Complete cure was based on clinical, dermoscopic, and mycological cures.Cur-PDT group showed complete clearance in 46% of children with variable response among fungal species, compared to 100% in the griseofulvin group. No effects were observed in curcumin or light groups. Cur-PDT group showed very mild tolerable burning pain. Griseofulvin group experienced systemic side effects in some cases. Cur-PDT can be a promising well-tolerated alternative treatment of tinea capitis, but with variable responses among fungal species.

A prospective clinical and trichoscopic study of tinea capitis in children during treatment.

Tinea capitis (TC) is the most common dermatophyte infection in children. Fungal culture; although a gold standard of diagnosis, requires time for the final results which can favor horizontal transmission. Trichoscopy helps in rapid diagnosis and could work as a monitoring tool during antifungal therapy. The objective of this study is to provide a clinico-trichoscopic evaluation and follow-up of children presenting with TC during treatment with either griseofulvin or terbinafine. One hundred and twenty children clinically diagnosed with TC confirmed by potassium hydroxide microscopy, were divided into two groups and given either oral ultramicrosize griseofulvin (60, Group A) or terbinafine (60, Group B). Following initiation of the antifungal therapy, trichoscopic features within Groups A and B were noted at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. However, variation in the baseline trichoscopic features between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.855). A significant reduction of corkscrew and broken hairs as well as perifollicular scales, scalp erythema, and crust was significantly observed from 2 weeks onward irrespective of the antifungal drug prescribed. Despite the paucity of data evaluating trichoscopic features in patients with TC, this tool can serve as a rapid diagnostic and monitoring tool during antifungal treatment. Trichoscopic signs of TC resolution occur before clinical improvement and can guide for treatment adjustment during the course of therapy.

Clinical clues and trends in epidemiology and pathogens in paediatric tinea capitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophyte infection in children. Pathogens differ between populations. During the past few decades pathogen shifts have been reported in many countries around the world. This study aimed to characterize the pathogens involved in tinea capitis in a large tertiary paediatric medical centre in Israel. The electronic medical records of the dermatology unit were searched for patients diagnosed with tinea capitis from 2010 to 2019, and demographic, clinical and mycological data were retrieved. A stepwise logistic regression was performed to determine the variables most significantly associated with positive cultures. The prevalence of Trichophyton tonsurans isolates was found to be significantly increased during 2019. In the logistic regression analysis, alopecia was most significantly associated with a positive culture (OR = 8.72, 95% CI 4.29-17.7, P < 0.001) while positive culture was also associated with age (OR = 1.11 per year of age, 95% CI 1.02-1.22, P = 0.01) and Ethiopian ethnicity (OR = 3.67, 95% CI 1.42-9.45, P = 0.01). The presentation of alopecia was significantly related to having a positive culture. This symptom was more prevalent in boys than in girls, and the diagnosis of tinea capitis was delayed by an average of 2 months in girls. The results of this study may herald a pathogen shift in Israel. Physicians should be aware that rates of alopecia are lower in girls and this can result in delayed diagnosis and the development of complications, including chronicity, scarring alopecia and kerion formation.

Trichoscopy as a monitoring tool in assessing treatment response in 98 children with tinea capitis: A prospective clinical study.

Tinea capitis (TC) is the most common dermatophyte infection in children. Fungal culture the gold standard diagnostic method takes several weeks and has poor yields. Trichoscopy helps in rapid diagnosis and could work as a monitoring tool during antifungal therapy. Our main objective is to document the evolution of trichoscopic features with treatment and their correlation with clinical parameters in patients of TC. Forty-six and 52 children with clinically diagnosed TC that was confirmed by potassium hydroxide microscopy, received griseofulvin and terbinafine, respectively. Recruited children were subjected to clinical and trichoscopic assessment by calculation of CASS (clinical assessment severity score) and counting of TAHC (Total Altered hair count; negative and positive), respectively, at baseline and follow-up at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. McNemar, Wilcoxon singed ranked test and Spearman-rho correlation of various parameters was evaluated. Follow-up trichoscopy revealed significant (p < 0.009) disappearance of negative TAHC like black dot (second week onward), corkscrew, horseshoe and zigzag hair at 4 weeks and short broken hair, erythema telangiectasia hemorrhage (ETH) resolved at 6 weeks. Positive TAHC (regrowing hair) shows significant increase at 6 weeks (p < 0.001). CASS and negative TAHC showed significant difference at 4 weeks (p < 0.001) by analyzing boxplot graph. Therefore, trichoscopic resolution occurred before the clinical cure. Terbinafine subjects showed a higher clinical cure rate at 4 weeks (p=0.02) as compared to griseofulvin. To conclude, trichoscopy is a good monitoring tool that could document the disappearance of almost all dystrophic hair at 4 to 6 weeks and is a more sensitive tool than microscopic examination. Regrowing hair and perifollicular scaling are markers of recovery.

Isolation of Dermatophytes from Infected Stray Dogs in Selangor, Malaysia

Background: Dermatophytosis is one of the most common skin diseases that affects cats and dogs. Geographic factors play an important role in determining prevalence, showing high rates of prevalence in warm and humid environments. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic identification of different types of dermatophytes present on stray dogs. Methods: The design of this study was laboratory-based research. Each sample was collected from an infection site (nail, hair, or skin) that was identified by conducting a physical examination of a stray dog that was infected with fungi. The skin scraping, nail clipping, and fur cutting samples were collected from infected dogs and then cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). The cultures were incubated at 26°C for five weeks. The isolates of fungi were then examined macroscopically and microscopically. The Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) staining technique was used for fungi morphology identification. Results: Overall, the most common type of dermatophytes that affected the dogs were Trichophyton spp. (64.70%), Aspergillus spp. (10.10%), Microsporum spp. (7.20%), and Curvularia spp. (5.60%). Conclusion: This study revealed the most common dermatophyte infections found on stray dogs in Selangor, Malaysia. This study can assist investigators in understanding the prevalence of the dermatophyte burden in stray dogs and help prevent further complication, such as the spread of illness, especially zoonotic infection.

Aetiological changes of tinea capitis in the Hubei area in 60years: Focus on adult tinea capitis.

Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp primarily affecting children, with less frequent, though not rare, observation in adults. This study aimed to assess changes in the causative agents of adult tinea capitis over a 60-year period in the Hubei area. A retrospective, single-centre study was performed on 164 adults with tinea capitis between 1960 and 2020. Out of 1113 cases of tinea capitis, 164 patients were adults, representing 14.7% of all patients. Adult tinea capitis was slightly more prevalent in males (91, 55.5%) than in females (73, 44.5%), but gender difference was not statistically significant between adults and children. Adult tinea capitis was most prevalent between the ages of 18 and 29years, with a mean age of 22years. Trichophyton schoenleinii was the most common dermatophyte in adult tinea capitis (78, 47.6%), followed by Trichophyton violaceum (58, 35.4%). Most adult tinea capitis cases before the 1980s were caused by T.schoenleinii, but T.violaceum has become the leading pathogen for recent adult tinea capitis cases. Tinea capitis is not a disease exclusive to children. On the contrary, an upward trend of tinea capitis in adults has been observed in recent years. T.violaceum has become the dominant causative agent of adult tinea capitis in the Hubei area, replacing T.schoenleinii. These results provide a better understanding of the treatment and prevention of tinea capitis in adults.

Trichoscopic signs of tinea capitis: a guide for selection of appropriate antifungal.

Tinea capitis is the most common pediatric dermatophyte infection. Optimal treatment regimen differs according to the type of the dermatophyte involved. The aim of this work was to study the trichoscopic signs in relation to isolated organism in a sample of Egyptian patients with tinea capitis and the possibility of using them as a guide for selection of appropriate antifungal. This study was carried out on 60 subjects with tinea capitis. Patients were mycologically examined, both direct microscopy with KOH preparation and culture of the scraped hair materials on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Culture mounts were used for identification of the organism. Trichoscopic examination of all patients was performed using the Dermlite DLIII dermoscope. There was significant higher prevalence of both comma and corkscrew hair in endothrix infection and T. violaceum-infected cases. On the other hand, there was significant higher prevalence of zigzag, barcode hairs, and white sheaths in ectothrix infection and M. canis-infected cases. While some trichoscopic findings are nonspecific, others were found to be more specific. Finding zigzag hairs and barcode hairs points to ectothrix infection (M. canis), and it is recommended to start treatment with griseofulvin. On the other hand, finding comma hairs and corkscrew hairs without zigzag hairs and barcode hairs points to endothrix infection (T. violaceum), and it is recommended to start treatment with terbinafine in the usual dose.

Efficacies and merits of the cotton swab technique for diagnosing tinea capitis in the pediatric population

Efficacies and merits of the cotton swab technique for diagnosing tinea capitis in the pediatric population

Trichoscopy as a Diagnostic Tool for Tinea Capitis: A Prospective, Observational Study.

Background:Tinea capitis is the most common pediatric dermatophyte infection. Trichoscopy aids in the rapid diagnosis and allows prompt treatment, preventing horizontal transmission.Objectives:The objective of this study is to document the trichoscopic features of tinea capitis and evaluate its correlation with clinical type, microscopic form, and mycological culture and propose diagnostic trichoscopic criteria.Materials and Methods:Trichoscopy was performed, after taking consent in 98 participants (<18 years) of tinea capitis diagnose by hair root and scalp scraping examination for hyphae positive on potassium hydroxide mount microscopy or culture positive on SDA media. The comparison of observed trichoscopic features, with the clinical type, pattern of invasion, and etiological agent was carried out.Results:The most common clinical variant was black dot, and etiological agent was Trichophyton violaceum. The following trichoscopic features were noted: black dot, comma, short broken, corkscrew, horse-shoe, zigzag hair, and perifollicular scaling. Perifollicular scaling was significantly common in gray-patch variant, whereas comma, black dot, horse-shoe hair, and perifollicular scaling were noted in black-dot variant. Comma, corkscrew, and zig-zag hair were significantly present in endothrix form, whereas perifollicular scaling was evident in ectothrix form. Combining perifollicular scaling with comma hair, short broken, and black dot hair achieved a diagnostic sensitivity of 98.97%.Conclusions:Trichoscopy by evaluating for the combination of perifollicular scaling and 3 dystrophic hair (comma hair, black dot, and short-broken hair) is a good diagnostic tool for tinea capitis. Horse-shoe hair a novel finding, not hitherto reported in the literature requires validation in future studies.

Comparative study of oral terbinafine vs. oral griseofulvin in the management of tinea capitis

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Tinea capitis (TC) is a common dermatophyte infection affecting primarily prepubertal children. The present study has been designed to assess the clinico-etiological profile of the T capitis and to compare the efficacy and tolerability of terbinafine with griseofulvin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; One hundred fifty eight patients of T. capitis were divided into two groups of 79 patients each to receive either oral griseofulvin or terbinafine (according to weight). Patients in both the groups were followed up at 2, 4, 12 and 36 weeks. At every visit, clinical improvement was evaluated using clinical assessment severity score and the compliance, tolerability and side effects of the drugs were assessed along with KOH microscopy, fungal culture from the lesion and relevant blood investigations.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The clinical assessment score were statistically similar in group G and group T at the start of therapy. The decline in scores in both treatment groups was statistically significant at each follow up visit. In griseofulvin group, the mean score was declined from 5.9 at baseline to 4.24 at week 2 and 2.79 at week 4, 0.82 at week 12 and 1.24 at 36 week. In the terbinafine group, the score had a mean of 6.23 at 0 week and 4.03 at week 2, 2.32 at week 4, 0.69 at week 12 and 0.83 at week 36.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; At follow up study long lasting tissue effect of terbinafine was found but effect of griseofulvin was waned at 36 week. So terbinafine may be better option with similar side effect profile but it is better in residual clinical and mycological effect at higher cost.&lt;/p&gt;

Pediatric tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton soudanense in Rochester, Minnesota, United States.

Tinea capitis is a common pediatric dermatophyte infection. Its main pathogen in the United States is Trichophyton tonsurans accounting for greater than 95% of the infections. Other pathogens including Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton soudanense are common in Africa. Although rare in the United States, their prevalence is increasing, possibly because of immigration patterns. We evaluated the demographic characteristics, treatments, and resolution among pediatric patients with T.violaceum and T.soudanense infections. Retrospective chart review of patients from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, United States, with cultures positive for T.violaceum and T.soudanense from 1997 to 2014. Age at presentation, ethnic background, date and location of culture, and treatment were extracted. In total, 81 children (age <18years) were identified as positive for T.violaceum and T.soudanense (mean [range] age, 6.0 [1-17]years). Race/ethnicity of 67 patients (82.7%) was African; four, African-American; three, white; two, Asian; and five, unknown. After culture identification, 64 patients (79.0%) received griseofulvin; five, terbinafine; and three, itraconazole; nine patients had no documented oral antifungal therapy. Of 28 patients not lost to follow-up, median time to clinical cure was 2.3months (interquartile range, 2.8months). T.violaceum and T.soudanense are tinea capitis pathogens, most common among patients of African descent. The pathogens may be underrecognized because such tinea capitis causes are rare in the United States. Most patients had direct contact with persons who had similar symptoms, suggesting contagious nature. Griseofulvin and terbinafine appear to be acceptable treatments against these organisms.

English

Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophyte infection in school age children in developing countries and is known to impact negatively on their health and well-being. This study determined the prevalence of T. capitis and its relationship with hygiene among primary school pupils in Ile-Ife. This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited randomly selected pupils from public and private schools in Ile-Ife from March to April 2017. The data was collected with the use of a pre&ndash;tested interviewer-administered questionnaire on hygiene followed by physical examination. Children with a clinical diagnosis of tinea capitis had scalp and hair scrapings for microscopy and culture. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 420 pupils participated, 240 (57.1%) males and 180 (42.9%) females aged between 4 and 16 years. The overall prevalence rate of T. Capitis infection was 21.7% with etiological agents consisting of Epidemophyton floccosum (12.0%), Microsporum gypseum (7.7%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (7.7%) while 33% grew Aspergillus niger (a contaminant) and no organism was isolated in 36 (39.6%) clinically diagnosed cases. The infection was prevalent among pupils sharing combs, had close contact with animals, playing with sand and lower socio-economic status. School type and personal hygiene were the major determinants of tinea capitis infection. Prevalence of T. capitis infection among school children was high and the infection is associated with poor level of hygiene and low socio-economic status. Health promotion and health education interventions are needed to promote good hygiene, early identification and treatment of the infection. Key words: Tinea capitis, primary school children, poverty, hygiene. &nbsp

Common cutaneous dermatophyte infections of the skin and nails

Superficial fungal infections occur in approximately 20% of the population. Dermatophyte infections are mainly caused by organisms from the Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, and Microsporum genera, and should not be confused with infections caused by Candida sp. since management may differ. The diagnosis of cutaneous dermatophyte infections are confirmed with potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations as clinical diagnosis is not always accurate, and may result in inappropriate treatment. Most dermatophyte infections are successfully managed with topical antifungal preparations; however, systemic therapy provides an increased cure rate and reduces re-occurrence. This review focuses on the most common dermatophyte infections seen by South African health-care providers and briefly describes the available treatment options, which may differ from agents used elsewhere in the world.

Kerion Type of Tinea Capitis Treated with Double Pulse Dose Terbinafine

Objective: Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection affecting hair and skin which always requires systemic treatment to get a clinical and mycologic cure, preventing relapse, and infection spread. Griseofulvin has been the antifungal therapy of choice for tinea capitis, but it often requires higher doses and a longer duration than recommended. Thus, effective alternative antifungal with good oral tolerability and shorter course of treatment are therefore required. The objective of this report is to evaluate the effectiveness of double pulse dose terbinafine for tinea capitis alternative therapy.Method: A case of kerion type of tinea capitis in a two-year-old girl was reported. Diagnosis was established based on clinical manifestations of alopecia, presented as erythematous macule with pustules, hemorrhagic crusts, and scales on the scalp, accompanied with occipital lymphadenopathy. Fungal culture showed growth of Microsporum canis (M. canis) colonies. Patient was treated with doubled pulse dose terbinafine 125 mg/day and 2% ketoconazole shampoo for two months.Result: Clinical improvements were found on 35th day of follow up, while mycologic cure was achieved on 60th day of follow up. Tolerability was excellent and no side effects observed.Conclusion: Double pulse dose terbinafine is effective for kerion type of tinea capitis. Key words: double pulse dose, kerion, M. canis, terbinafine, tinea capitis

Activity of Some Natural Oils on Dermatophytes Isolated from Assuit University Hospitals

Background: Dermatophytosis constitutes a major public health problem in different countries. The most common factors affecting the distribution and transmission of dermatophyte infections are climatic conditions, general hygiene, and animal contact. In Egypt, the prevalence of dermatophytosis has not been well clarified. Several antifungal agents are available to manage these infections but drug resistance, severe side effects and its very poor penetration can result in treatment failure. Objectives: This study aimed to detect the prevalence of dermatophyte infections in Assuit University Hospital and to screen for anti-dermatophytic activity of some plant essential oils to discover their medicinal potential for future applications as antifungal agents. Methodology: Samples were collected from 50 patients attending dermatology clinic at Assuit University Hospital and clinically diagnosed as tinea infections. Isolation and laboratory identification of dermatophytes were performed by direct microscopic examination, Sabouraud , s dextrose agar and rice grains medium culture. Extracellular enzymatic activities (urease, lipase and protease) were tested. Some natural oils (dill seed, garlic, ginger, nigella seed, olive, peppermint and riccinus) were screened for their anti-dermatophytic activities by disc diffusion methods. Result: Dermatophytosis was diagnosed in 40 (80%) of all patients examined, the prevalence of dermatophytosis in male (57.5%) was higher than in female (42.5%), the most common dermatophyte infection diagnosed was tinea capitis (65%), followed by tinea pedis (17.5%). Four species belonging to two genera were identified, 20 (50%) T. violaceum, 14 (35%) M. canis, 3 (7.5%) T. mentagrophytes and 3 (7.5%) T. rubrum. All tested oils have dermatophytic activities except dill and olive oils. Nigella oil was the most active against growth of T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. Ginger oil was the most active against T. violaceum and M. canis. Garlic and ginger oils had active effect against T. rubrum . Conclusion: Nigella, ginger and garlic oils had proved a promising effectiveness against dermatophytes and can be used in the development of new anti-dermatophytic preparations.

Study of Some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters among Cleaning Workers Infected with Microbial Skin Infections

This study have been carried out on (100) samples (hair, skin, nail and lesions) from cleaners of hospitals, schools and roads suspected of skin infections, 60 male, 40 female and 40 samples 20 male and 20 female from healthy individuals as control. Patients were divided into 3 age groups: G1 (15-25) years, G2 (26-35) years and G3 (36-45) years, in addition to control group (25-35) years.Samples were taken from (June-September, 2010) at some regions in Baghdad City. Diagnosis by a potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy and culture on Saboraud's dexotrose agar (SDA) have showed that most common dermatophyte infections were for tinea pedis with prevalence rate of (53%) followed by tinea unguium of (24.6%), tinea versicolor of (12.1%), tinea corporis of (5.3%), tinea capitis of (4.7%). Bacterial infections have beendiagnosed by Gram stain film then cultured on blood agar and Api system.Staphylococcus aureus was responsible for most infections that appeared. Significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) have been appeared between some of the study groups comparing with normal values and control group in the results of hematological tests [hemoglobin level,merythrocyte sedimentation rate (E.S.R.)]. Biochemical analyses were performed on serum samples (blood sugar, blood urea, serum creatinine, total bilirubin, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides.

Deep Dermatophytosis and Inherited CARD9 Deficiency

BackgroundDeep dermatophytosis is a severe and sometimes life-threatening fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. It is characterized by extensive dermal and subcutaneous tissue invasion and by frequent dissemination to the lymph nodes and, occasionally, the central nervous system. The condition is different from common superficial dermatophyte infection and has been reported in patients with no known immunodeficiency. Patients are mostly from North African, consanguineous, multiplex families, which strongly suggests a mendelian genetic cause.MethodsWe studied the clinical features of deep dermatophytosis in 17 patients with no known immunodeficiency from eight unrelated Tunisian, Algerian, and Moroccan families. Because CARD9 (caspase recruitment domain–containing protein 9) deficiency has been reported in an Iranian family with invasive fungal infections, we also sequenced CARD9 in the patients.ResultsFour patients died, at 28, 29, 37, and 39 years of age, with clinically active deep dermatophytosis. No other severe infections, fungal or otherwise, were reported in the surviving patients, who ranged in age from 37 to 75 years. The 15 Algerian and Tunisian patients, from seven unrelated families, had a homozygous Q289X CARD9 allele, due to a founder effect. The 2 Moroccan siblings were homozygous for the R101C CARD9 allele. Both alleles are rare deleterious variants. The familial segregation of these alleles was consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance and complete clinical penetrance.ConclusionsAll the patients with deep dermatophytosis had autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency. Deep dermatophytosis appears to be an important clinical manifestation of CARD9 deficiency. (Funded by Agence Nationale pour la Recherche and others.)

Tinea Capitis

Point-of-Care Quick Reference| March 19 2013 Tinea Capitis Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Tinea Capitis. Quick References 2013; 10.1542/aap.ppcqr.396378 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All AAP SitesAll PublicationsPediatric Care Online Search Advanced Search Topics: tinea capitis, scalp Common dermatophyte infection of the scalp. For reasons unknown, African American children are disproportionately affected. In the United States Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum audouini are responsible for most cases. T tonsurans is responsible for more than 90% of US infections. Three patterns of infection may be observed. Alopecia One or more round or oval patches of partial to complete alopecia with associated scaling (Figure 1).Infections caused by T tonsurans cause hairs to break at the scalp resulting in black dot hairs (the remnants of hairs remaining within the follicle) (Figure 1).Infections caused by Microsporum species cause hairs to break further from the scalp, resulting in incomplete alopecia; black dot hairs are absent.Seborrheic Mimics seborrheic dermatitis (ie, dandruff) with patchy or diffuse whitish to gray scale (Figure 2).Alopecia may be subtle.Inflammatory: When an inflammatory response... You do not currently have access to this content.

Tinea capitis in Botswana

BackgroundTinea capitis (TC) is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp that can also involve the eyebrows and eyelashes.AimThis study aimed to find the causative fungus responsible for TC in Botswana and determine its association with the clinical types of TC.MethodsSamples for potassium hydroxide 10% mounts and fungal cultures were collected in a microbiology laboratory at the National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana. Dermasel agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar were inoculated with the samples. Lactophenol cotton blue mounts were prepared from the culture-positive samples to study the morphological characteristics.ResultsTrichophyton violaceum was found to be the predominant causative organism of TC. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated from one patient. Both are anthropophilic species.ConclusionTC was found to be most common in those aged 1–15 years (81%). Of 17 patients in this age group, 16 were younger than 10 years old and one was 14 years old. T. violaceum was the most common dermatophyte species isolated.