[Herpes gestationis. A case report]

Case report. 21 years old woman with 30 week pregnancy, complicated by a 3 month multitreated skin condition, who was referred to General Hospital Morelia, with probable diagnosis of Kapossi sarcoma and sus- pected HIV. She presented with exulcerations involving the palate, lips, chest, abdomen, back and extremities. The lesions were, itchy and painful, with thick yellowish secretion, accompanied by dysphagia to solid foods. Laboratory results showed normochromic normocytic anemia, elevation of ESR, hypocalcaemia, increased PCR, results in alterations in various TORCH listing, HIV negative. The biopsy of a lesion of the forearm reported histological changes consistent with herpes, subsequently confirmed by direct immunofluorescence. Liquid aspiration secretion of one of the lesions reported coagulase negative staphylococcus sp and Enterobacter cloacae. The final diagnosis was 30 weeks pregnant women with gestational herpes complicated by pyogenic infection of the lesions, discarding infection with HIV and found positive for IgG to toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes virus.

Treatment of chromoblastomycosis with terbinafine: Experience with four cases

BACKGROUND

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis that occurs more frequently in tropical and subtropical areas and is caused by a group of dematiaceous fungi. It is a difficult-to-treat mycosis with low cure rates and a high rate of relapses.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this trial is to prove the efficacy and tolerance of oral terbinafine in four cases of chromoblastomycosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included four cases of chromoblastomycosis, proved clinically and mycologically, that are presented herein; three of them caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and one by Phialophora verrucosa. Two had a small extension and the other two were of medium and large extension. Oral terbinafine was administered at a dose of 500 mg/day, which was reduced to half in two of the cases once an 80% improvement had been reached; in the third case the initial dose was maintained, and in the fourth case the dose was increased to 750 mg/day. Three cases reached clinical and mycological cure in a mean treatment period of 7 months, the fourth case reached a significant improvement only after 1.2 years of treatment. The medication was well tolerated; no liver alterations occurred; only one patient suffered mild dyspepsia.

CONCLUSION

Terbinafine at 500 mg/day doses represents one of the best treatments for chromoblastomycosis due to its efficacy and excellent tolerability.

Sporotrichosis in childhood: clinical and therapeutic experience in 25 patients

Sporotrichosis in an uncommon mycoses in childhood and is generally associated with injuries received as a consequence of farm work. We undertook a retrospective study of sporotrichosis in children and adolescents seen over a 10-year period, focusing on their clinical, epidemiologic, and mycologic features as well as treatment. We included 25 children with a mean age of 9.3 years. Most of those affected were schoolchildren (84%) from rural areas. The main clinical variety of sporotrichosis seen was the lymphocutaneous form (64%), followed by the fixed cutaneous form (36%), and one instance of the disseminated cutaneous form. Most lesions were located on the upper limbs (40%) and the face (36%). Sporothrix schenckii was isolated in all patients and 24 of 25 had a positive sporotrichin skin test. Nineteen patients were treated and cured clinically and mycologically with potassium iodide, three were cured with itraconazole and one with heat therapy.

Mycetoma in children: experience with 15 cases

BACKGROUND

Mycetoma is a chronic infection caused by aerobic actinomycetes and filamentous fungi. It is an occupational disease frequent in tropical countries and is uncommon in children.

METHODS

A retrospective (25 years) report of mycetomas was conducted in children less than 15 years of age. Each of the cases was studied clinically and proven with microbiologic tests: direct examinations (to identify and classify the grains), cultures and identification based on morphology and biochemical tests. The therapeutic experience of the cases was also reviewed.

RESULTS

In a 25-year period, a total of 334 mycetomas were seen at our institution, 15 of which (4.5%) were in patients 15 years of age and younger (mean age: 11.2 years, age range: 6-15 years). Twelve cases were males and 3 females. The main clinical location was the foot in 10 of 15 (66.6%). Etiologies included 13 actinomycetomas and 2 eumycetomas. Etiologic agents were Nocardia brasiliensis in 12 cases, Nocardia asteroides in one and Madurella mycetomatis in 2. Eleven of the13 cases of actinomycetomas treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus diaminodiphenylsulfone were cured. The 2 failures were successfully treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate. One of the eumycetomas was cured with itraconazole therapy, whereas the other failed various treatments eventuating in surgical amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycetomas are exceptional in children; in our setting, actinomycetomas are more frequent than eumycetomas. The clinical and microbiologic diagnosis is simple. Overall, treatment response is better for actinomycetomas than for eumycetomas.

Tinea imbricata: autosomal dominant pattern of susceptibility in a polygamous indigenous family of the Nahuatl zone in Mexico. Tinea imbricata: Autosomal dominierendes Anfalligkeitsmuster in einer poligamen Eingeborenen-Familie in Nahuatl, Mexiko

We report on 9 confirmed cases of tinea imbricata (Tokelau, infection due to Trichophyton concentricum) out of 16 family members. They had a common mother with three different fathers. The genetic analysis of the family suggests an autosomal dominant pattern of susceptibility. Most cases (8/9) were presented as concentric and lamellar forms. One patient also had onychomycosis due to T. concentricum. Only two out of nine cases had a positive response to trichophytin.