Trichophyton rubrum as the causative agent of tinea capitis in three children

[Extensive inflammatory and childhood dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum]

We report an observation of extensive and atypical dermatophytosis to Trichophyton rubrum coexisting with fingernails and tinea manuum candidiasis in a 13-year-old girl presenting inflammatory cutaneous lesions, involvement of scalp, as well as total dystrophic onychomycosis of feet associated with a perionyxis of hands. The results of the mycological examination of specimen showed fungal elements of septate hyphae and pilar parasitism. The fungal culture allowed the diagnosis of certainty of the dermatophytosis to T. rubrum. The therapeutic success of this infection was obtained thanks to the administration of antifungals by oral route.

[Dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum. Ten-year period (1996-2006) data collection in a Dermatology Department in Mexico City]

Dermatophytosis is the most common mycosis in the world up to 80% caused by Trichophyton rubrum. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical characteristics of the dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum in a dermatological outpatient clinic during a ten years period, from 1996 to 2005. We collected the data from patients with a dermatophytosis from which we have isolated T. rubrum. A total of 776 patients with dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum were found. A slight predominance of female patients (56.2%) was observed. The most commonly affected age group was those in the third to the fifth decade of life, and house working women (33.5%) were predominant. Onychomycosis was found in 63% of the cases, tinea pedis in 22.7%, tinea corporis in 5.2% and tinea cruris in 2.8%. In onychomycosis, the first toe nail was the most commonly affected (58.9%) and the dystrophic type was seen in 50.7% of them.

Trichophyton rubrum tinea capitis in a young child

While the primary etiologic agent of tinea capitis in the United States has varied over the past century, the last several decades have been marked by a predominance of infection with Trichophyton tonsurans. Related anthropophilic organisms commonly isolated in other dermatophytoses are infrequently observed in tinea capitis. We report the unusual occurrence of tinea capitis in a young boy infected with Trichophyton rubrum.

Trichophyton rubrum tinea capitis in an 85-year-old woman

BACKGROUND

Tinea capitis is a worldwide problem and occurs most commonly in young children. Certain common fungal types are most often recognized as the responsible infecting organism.

OBJECTIVE

This article presents the case of an elderly woman with tinea capitis caused by a fungal organism that rarely infects hair. A review of the world literature provides evidence of only a few other similar cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Trichophyton rubrum causing tinea capitis in adults is a rare but now increasingly recognized entity. This possibility should be kept in mind when caring for adults with nonhealing scalp conditions.

Outbreak of Tinea capitis caused by Microsporum ferrugineum in Thailand

There was an outbreak of Tinea capitis at the Pak-kred Home for Mentally and Physically Handicapped Babies, Bangkok, Thailand in 1993. One hundred and thirty-eight cases were diagnosed as tinea capitis based on clinical signs and positive laboratory investigations. The results of Wood's light examination, KOH preparation and fungal culture were positive in 89.9, 75.9 and 27.4% respectively. The non-inflammatory form had a higher rate of positive KOH and culture than in the inflammatory form. Microsporum ferrugineum was the major pathogen (66.7%) and most of its infections (80.4%) caused a non-inflammatory type of tinea capitis. Griseofulvin, in a dosage of 10-15 mg/kg/day and selenium sulfide shampoos, yielded an 84.8% cure rate within 14.9 weeks. No recurrence or obvious adverse reactions were observed.