ABSTRACT
La tiña capitis (TC) es una micosis superficial del cuero cabelludo, considerada una de las infecciones más frecuentes por dermatofitos en niños. Hasta la actualidad, las especies descritas con mayor frecuencia en nuestro medio son el Microsporum y, en segundo término, Trichophyton, los cuales se contraen principalmente por contacto directo con animales o seres humanos infectados, respectivamente. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 8 años con alopecia y lesiones inflamatorias de 2 años de evolución, en la que finalmente se llegó al diagnóstico de TC inflamatoria causada por T. tonsurans, un hongo antropofílico considerado poco frecuente en Argentina y emergente en la provincia de Buenos Aires. Este patógeno presenta alta transmisibilidad; son varios los países que han reportado brotes escolares y comunitarios. Se debe resaltar la importancia de su sospecha clínica temprana para un tratamiento adecuado.
Tinea capitis (TC) is a superficial mycosis of the scalp, considered one of the most common dermatophyte infections in children. Until now, the species mainly described in our environment are Microsporum and secondly Trichophyton, which are contracted mainly by direct contact with infected animals or humans, respectively. We present the case of an 8-year-old patient with alopecia and inflammatory lesions of 2 years of evolution, finally reaching the diagnosis of inflammatory tinea capitis caused by T. tonsurans, an anthropophilic fungus considered rare in Argentina and emerging in the province of Buenos Aires. This pathogen has high transmissibility; several countries have reported school and community outbreaks. The importance of its early clinical suspicion for adequate treatment should be emphasized.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Female , Child , Tinea Capitis/diagnosis , Arthrodermataceae , Trichophyton , MicrosporumABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: Las tiñas son infecciones que afectan la piel y anexos. Trichophyton tonsurans es un hongo antropofílico emergente que puede provocar brotes. Objetivo: Describir un brote de tiña por T. tonsurans en una escuela de Valparaíso. Materiales y Método: Estudio descriptivo realizado entre junio-agosto de 2018. Se consideró caso a todo alumno de la escuela y a familiares directos en contacto con ellos, con diagnóstico clínico de tiña. El estudio micológico de las muestras tomadas se realizó a través de pruebas morfo-fisiológicas. Los datos se expresaron en números y porcentajes. Resultados: Hubo 18 casos, 16 niños (15 del kindergarten) y dos adultos. Tasa de ataque en kindergarten fue de 68%. Nueve casos fueron varones con promedio de edad de 6 años. Catorce de nacionalidad chilena y una haitiana. El caso índice fue un niño chileno y el primario el niño haitiano. La localización más frecuente fue en el rostro. Diez casos tuvieron cultivo con desarrollo de T. tonsurans. La mayoría requirió tratamiento con terbinafina por fracaso terapéutico con clotrimazol. Conclusiones: El brote por T. tonsurans ocurrió principalmente en varones del kindergarten. La principal localización fue en el rostro. La mayoría de los casos requirió terbinafina como tratamiento por fracaso terapéutico con clotrimazol.
Background: Ringworm are skin and its annexes infections. Trichophyton tonsurans is an emergent anthropophilic fungus that might cause outbreaks. Aim: To describe a ringworm outbreak by T tonsurans in an elementary school in Valparaíso, Chile. Methods: A descriptive study was run between June and August, 2018. Students and his closest relatives in contact with them who were clinically diagnosed with ringworm have been considered a case. Mycological studies of samples had been carried out through morphophysiology tests. Data are shown in numbers and percentages. Results: There were 18 cases, 16 kids (15 from kindergarten) and 2 adults. Attack rate was 68% in kindergarten. Nine cases were boys with average age of 6 years old. For 14 cases their nationality was Chilean and in 1 case Haitian. First case was a Chilean boy, and primary case was a Haitian boy. The most frequent location was face. Ten cases yielded positive cultures for T tonsurans. Most of the patients needed terbinafine treatment after a therapeutic failure performed with clotrimazole. Conclusion: T. tonsurans outbreak ocurred mainly in kindergarten male. The most frequent location was face. Most of the patients needed terbinafine treatment after a therapeutic failure with clotrimazole.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Tinea/epidemiology , Trichophyton/isolation & purification , Disease Outbreaks , Tinea/microbiology , Chile/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Objective: To report atypical morphological features of Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans strains associated with tinea capitis. Methods: Eighty-two T. tonsurans strains isolated in Ceará, Brazil, were analyzed regarding macro and micromorphological features and nutritional patterns. Results: Fifty-two samples presented abundant chlamydoconidia, which were produced in chains. Macroscopically, these strains developed small glabrous colonies that were firmly attached to the surface of the culture medium, with few or no aerial mycelia and intense rusty yellow pigmentation. Seven strains did not grow with stimulus from thiamine. Samples were heterogeneous regarding urease production and none presented in vitro hair perforation. Conclusions: The observation of T. tonsurans strains with distinct phenotypic features indicates the need to revise the taxonomic criteria for routine identification of this dermatophyte.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To report atypical morphological features of Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans strains associated with tinea capitis. Methods: Eighty-two T. tonsurans strains isolated in Ceará, Brazil, were analyzed regarding macro and micromorphological features and nutritional patterns. Results: Fifty-two samples presented abundant chlamydoconidia, which were produced in chains. Macroscopically, these strains developed small glabrous colonies that were firmly attached to the surface of the culture medium, with few or no aerial mycelia and intense rusty yellow pigmentation. Seven strains did not grow with stimulus from thiamine. Samples were heterogeneous regarding urease production and none presented in vitro hair perforation. Conclusions: The observation of T. tonsurans strains with distinct phenotypic features indicates the need to revise the taxonomic criteria for routine identification of this dermatophyte.
ABSTRACT
Since 1995, Trichophyton tonsurans has been one of the causative agents of dermatophytosis in Korea. Herein we evaluate 77 patients infected with T. tonsurans who visited an outpatient clinic between 2004 and 2014. Infections due to T. tonsurans were diagnosed by mycological examination, which included direct microscopic examination using 15% KOH and culture in potato dextrose agar complemented with 0.5% chloramphenicol. The annual prevalence of infection due to T. tonsurans was the highest in 2014 (15 cases) but remained constant in non-gladiators between 2004 and 2014. The ratio of male to female patients was 1:0.3. The spring season presented the highest incidence compared with other seasons, with 27 cases. The incidence of infections due to T. tonsurans among gladiators was highest in spring compared with the other seasons whereas the incidence in non-gladiators was the highest in the winter. The body site most commonly affected was the face. Tinea corporis was the most common subtype of dermatophytosis caused by T. tonsurans. Herein, we demonstrate that the prevalence of infection with T. tonsurans remain constant throughout the study period in Korea.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Disease Outbreaks , Prevalence , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Seasons , Tinea/diagnosis , Trichophyton/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Los dermatofitos constituyen un grupo de hongos queratinofílicos y queratinolíticos que pueden producir lesiones en piel y sus anexos en animales y el hombre. Las lesiones pueden variar de intensidad desde leves a severas, algunas de las cuales son altamente inflamatorias. Trichophyton tonsurans es un dermatofito antropofílico agente de tiñas no inflamatorias, de piel y raramente de uñas. Es altamente contagioso, que se adquiere por contacto interhumano y de escasa presentación en nuestro medio. Raramente y asociado a estados de inmunocompromiso ocasiona tiña inflamatoria de cuero cabelludo (Kerion Celsi o Querión de Celso). Kerion Celsi es una lesión altamente inflamatoria y supurativa, generalmente causada por dermatofitos zoofílicos que se transmiten de animales al hombre, la cual representa una respuesta inmune exagerada del huésped a la presencia del hongo. Se documenta un caso de Kerion Celsi a T. tonsurans presentado por un niño de 4 años de edad, sin inmunocompromiso, residente en el interior de la provincia. Se trata del primer caso local de tinea capitis altamente inflamatoria a T. tonsurans. El propósito es demostrar que el hongo, a pesar de ser antropofílico, puede ocasionar esta forma clínica en paciente sin inmunocompromiso. Su existencia en el medio requiere de diagnóstico rápido, de extremar medidas higiénicas y posterior control para evitar su propagación.
The dermatophytes are keratinophilic and keratinolytic fungi that cause skin and its annexes lesions in animals and man. T. tonsurans is an anthropophilic fungi, highly contagious, of rare presentation in our environment. Infection is acquired by interpersonal. Noninflammatory ringworm occurs in children and adults. Very rarely it causes highly inflammatory and suppurative ringworm of the scalp (Celsi kerion) associated with immunocompromised states. The kerion is caused by zoophilic dermatophytes. It represents an exaggerated host immune response to the presence of the fungus. This paper presents a case of T. tonsurans Kerion in a 4-year-old non-immunocompromised patient, who lives in rural area in the province. This is the first local case of severe inflammatory tinea capitis to T. tonsurans. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate that T. tonsurans can cause Kerion not associated to immunocompromised. Furthermore, it shows its existence in the medium, which requires immediate diagnosis of the diseases and increase hygiene and disease control to prevent the spread of the fungus.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Child, Preschool , Tinea Capitis/diagnosis , Tinea Capitis/etiology , Tinea Capitis/microbiology , Tinea Capitis/therapy , Trichophyton/pathogenicity , Argentina , DermatomycosesABSTRACT
El Trichophyton tonsurans es un dermatofito antropofílico de distribución mundial, asociado a brotes epidémicos de tinea capitis, pero que también se puede aislar en tinea ungueum y faciei. Se presenta un paciente de sexo masculino, de 3 años de edad, procedente de Guatemala, que tiene una lesión eritematosa de bordes bien definidos, con descamación gruesa en la mejilla derecha, de dos semanas de evolución, de la cual se aisló Trichophyton tonsurans. Curó luego del tratamiento con crema de ketoconazol al 2% durante 15 días.
Trichophyton tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte with a worldwide distribution that is associated with epidemic outbreaks of tinea capitis and sometimes it is also isolated from tinea ungueum and faciei. We report a 3 year-old male from Guatemala, with a two weeks history of a scaly erythematous lesion on the right cheek. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated and the lesion resolved after a 15 days-course of 2% ketoconazole cream.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Child, Preschool , Tinea , Trichophyton , Facial DermatosesABSTRACT
Trichophyton tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is not yet truly prevalent in Korea. Especially, cases of toe nail infection during childhood are very rare, and no cases have been reported prior to this report. We report a single case of tinea unguium due to T. tonsurans in a healthy child. A 7 year-old patient visited an outpatient clinic presenting with subungual hyperkeratosis of the 1st and 3rd Rt. toe nails, which had first presented at an age of 28 months, and no other symptoms. Numerous hyphae were evident on the KOH smear examination. A confirmative diagnosis of tinea unguium cased by T. tonsurans was made after culturing scales from the toe nail lesion. The patient is currently undergoing follow-up, after being treated with oral terbinafine hydrochloride, without a relapse in symptoms.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Arthrodermataceae , Follow-Up Studies , Hyphae , Korea , Nails , Naphthalenes , Onychomycosis , Polyenes , Recurrence , Toes , Trichophyton , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
Objective To report a case of black-dot ringworm caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a 3-year-old girl. Methods Lesional hair was obtained from the patient and subjected to direct microscopic examination as well as culture. Subsequently, the isolate underwent morphological, biochemical and molecular biology identification. The extracellular enzymatic activity of the isolate was analyzed. Results Microscopy revealed that the hair shaft was filled with fungal spores. Typical colony of the isolate was grayish-white with downy appearance. Slide culture showed centipede-like, lateral, rod-shaped microconidia. Urease test was positive. The amplification of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) ITS domains by PCR produced a 687 bp-sized fragment which had a 100% homology with the sequences of several Trichophyton tonsurans strains in the GenBank database. The extracellular enzymatic activity analysis showed an increase in the activity of alkaline phos-phatase, acid phosphatase, esterase (C4), β-glucosidase, leucine arylamidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and a-mannosidase. Conclusions The pathogenic fungus is identified as Trichophyton tonsurans based on morphological and biochemical features as well as sequence of the ITS region of rDNA, and the child was diagnosed with black-dot ringworm.
ABSTRACT
Este trabalho teve como objetivo isolar e identificar os fungos queratinofílicos do solo e correlacioná-los com os agentes de dermatomicose. De acordo com nossos resultados, o predomínio de Trichophyton tonsurans como agente de dermatomicose em crianças na cidade do Recife, PE deve-se provavelmente ao maior contato destas com o solo.
This study had the aim of isolating and identifying keratinophilic fungi from soil and correlating them with dermatomycosis agents. According to our results, the predominance of Trichophyton tonsurans as a dermatomycosis agent among children in the city of Recife, PE, is probably due to children's greater contact with soil.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Dermatomycoses/epidemiology , Dermatomycoses/microbiology , Mitosporic Fungi/isolation & purification , Public Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Soil Microbiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Mitosporic Fungi/classification , PrevalenceABSTRACT
We report a case of kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton(T.) tonsurans in a 14-year-old student of a middle school wrestling team. The lesion was on the scalp for 1 month and 6.5X5.0X1.0 cm sized, markedly inflammatory, swollen, boggy pus exuding plaque. Culture from the scalp lesion of the patient on Sabouraud dextrose agar showed T. tonsurans. The patient was treated with 250 mg of terbinafine daily for 12 weeks and short term therapy of low dose of prednisolone. Skin lesions were completely cured and recurrence is not observed to date.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Agar , Glucose , Prednisolone , Recurrence , Scalp , Skin , Suppuration , Tinea Capitis , Trichophyton , WrestlingABSTRACT
Trichophyton(T.) tonsurans was an anthropophilic dermatophyte and has not been prevalent in Korea yet. Especially the infection of non-athletic patient was very rare and only 7 cases have been reported so far in Korea. We report 1 case of tinea capitis and 2 cases of tinea faciei due to T. tonsurans in a family, i.e grandfather, grandmother and grandson. Grand father and grand mother had pruritic scaly erythematous macule on their face and grandson had a 10 x 10 cm sized alopecia with black dots on the scalp. We confirmed T. tonsurans in all cases based on the microscopic findings and fungal culture. Although we could not confirm the source and the exact transmission route, these patients are not athletes and none of them had contact history with any athletes. So we think that T. tonsurns might have been already spreading among general population of Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia , Arthrodermataceae , Athletes , Fathers , Korea , Mothers , Scalp , Tinea , Tinea Capitis , TrichophytonABSTRACT
Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans is an anthrophophilic dermatophyte and children are the primary target population. The "seborrheic" type is the most common clinical type of tinea capitis caused by T. tonsurans but kerion celsi is much less common. We report a case of kerion celsi caused by T. tonsurans in a 21-year-old woman. The patient had various-sized, erythematous nodules and pustules with irregular alopecia on the scalp. On mycological investigation, T. tonsurans was identified within the lesion. The patient did not respond to itraconazole therapy but was successfully treated with ultramicronized griseofulvin.
Subject(s)
Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Young Adult , Alopecia , Arthrodermataceae , Griseofulvin , Health Services Needs and Demand , Itraconazole , Scalp , Tinea Capitis , TrichophytonABSTRACT
"Black dot" tinea capitis is a clinical form of tinea capitis, which is a dermatophytosis of the scalp and associated hair. It is caused by the anthropophilic endothrix organisms. We report a case of black dot tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans in an 18-year-old woman who is a judoist in the college. She had suffered from a diffuse hair loss involving nearly entire scalp hair for 1 year. The scalp lesion showed diffuse multiple black dots with minimal inflammatory sign or scales. KOH examination revealed arthroconidia of endothrix pattern. On mycological studies, T. tonsusrans was identified. She was treated with oral itraconazole pulse therapy (2 cycles) and ketoconazole shampoo.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Hair , Itraconazole , Ketoconazole , Scalp , Tinea Capitis , Tinea , Trichophyton , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans infection has been increasing gradually in non-athletes, i.e. general population as well as athletes since it was first reported that athletes had been infected in Korea in 1995, whereas it is a common dermatophyte species in the United States and Europe. OBJECTIVE: We performed retrospective study to observe tinea infections caused by T. tonsurans. METHOD: The clinical and epidermiological study was made with 105 patients of T. tonsurans infection among out-patients in our skin clinic from March, 1995 to December, 2003. RESULT: In 105 cases of T. tonsurans infection 73 ones were athletes such as wrestlers and judo players, and 32 ones were non-athletes. The infected skin lesions of 114 cases showed mild to moderate inflammation, whereas 7 ones showed moderate to severe inflammation. The results of KOH wet mount were positive in 92 cases (87.6%). In fungal culture with Potato dextrose agar-corn meal-tween 80, the mahogany variety (53.3%) was more than the sulfreum one (22.8%), which was less significant because the percentage of unclassified cases (23.8%) influenced on variety distribution considerably (p> 0.05, chi-test). Microscopic findings of cultured fungus showed hyphae with match-box type microconidia. Preferred anatomical sites were scalp (35.2%), face (32.4%), upper extremities (16.2%), and neck (14.3%). The rate of sex was 89 cases in male and 16 ones in female. The mean age was 16.1+/-4.6, ranged from 3 to 44 years. There is no difference between athletes and non-athletes. Preferred seasons were winter (44.8%) and spring (33.3%). The occurrence of the cases in athletes, which reached the peak in 1997, has been maintained since 1995, while the number of the cases in non-athletes has minimally increased until 2003. Throughout this study it proves that the occurrence of the infection has been disseminating with athletes of a hand-to-hand fight through a lot of physical contact in the center because of frequent athletic meetings since T. tonsurans was introduced in Korea in 1995. Moreover, there is a increasing tendency toward T. tonsurans infection in non-athletes. Therefore, athletic and medical associations should make continual observations of T. tonsurans infection and take close consideration into systematic management and strategy against the infection in order to suppress probable prevalence of the contagion in our society.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Arthrodermataceae , Athletes , Europe , Fungi , Glucose , Hyphae , Inflammation , Korea , Martial Arts , Neck , Outpatients , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Scalp , Seasons , Skin , Solanum tuberosum , Sports , Tinea , Trichophyton , United States , Upper ExtremityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Since 1995, a nation-wide outbreak of trichophytosis gladiatorum has been noted among wrestlers and judoists alike in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of the illness among Korean judoists. METHOD: The epidemiological, clinical and mycological studies were performed on dermatophytosis among athlelets during all-Korea judo tournaments from April, 1999 to May, 2000. RESULTS: A total of 316 cases of trichophytosis gladiatorum were detected throughout the country. The majority of patients (204, 64.6%) were high school students, followed by judoists attending middle school (18.7%), and college and above (16.7%). The scalp was the most favorite site of the skin lesions, followed by upper extremities including hands, face, neck, trunk and legs. The right arm was affected by tinea 1.6 times more frequently than the left one; in the legs the right to left ratio was 0.6. As a whole, the lesions developed in equal frequency on each side of the body. The scalp lesions were noted in 133 patients (42.1%) : erythematous scaly patches were the most frequent, affecting 66.2% of the tinea capitis patients, followed by black dot ringworm (55.6%), alopecia (33.1%), etc. Twenty six (8.2%) of the entire trichophytosis patients had a family history. Mother, brothers, father, sisters, and aunt were said to be affected by the illness in a decreasing order of frequency. Out of 316 patients, 38 (12.0%) were culture negative and 36 (11.4%) showed a contaminant. From the remaining 242 patients (76.6%), Trichophyton tonsurans (mahogany variety) was isolated. Randomly selected 38 strains of T. tonsurans showed positive results for hair perforation and urease test. CONCLUSION: Trichophytosis gladiatorum has recently been rampaging among domestic judoists. A sustained follow-up study seems necessary to monitor the spread of T. tonsurans infection to the general population from the reservoir of judoists.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia , Arm , Fathers , Follow-Up Studies , Hair , Hand , Korea , Leg , Martial Arts , Mothers , Neck , Scalp , Siblings , Skin , Tinea Capitis , Tinea , Trichophyton , Upper Extremity , UreaseABSTRACT
Since Trichophyton (T.) tonsurans was isolated from a middle school wrestler in 1995, its infection has been raging among amateur wrestlers and judoists as trichophytosis gladiatorum. We describe herein two cases of T. tonsurans infection in a 16-year-old judoist girl and her 51-year-old mother, because they might mean the first step of the spread of this particular organism from its large reservoir to the general population.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Mothers , Rage , Tinea , TrichophytonABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Trichophytosis gladiatorum is dermatophytosis transmitted by a physical contact between wrestlers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of the illness in Korean amateur wreatlers. METHOD: The epidemiological, clinical and mycological studies were performed on dermatophytosis in a total of 1, 394 Korean amateur wrestlers through a nation-wide group examination from July, 1995 to April, 1996. RESULTS: A number of 575 (42.5%) cases of tinea were detected throughout the country among 1, 394 wrestlers. The prevalence rate of tinea in wrestling students was 48.4% for middle school, 41.4% for high school, 30% for college and above. The head and neck area was the predilection site of the skin lesions, which decreased in number as moving towards legs. As a whole, the lesions affected the right half of the body 1.7 times as more frequently as the left half. The tendency of a predilection for the right side of the body was most prominent on the head, typified by auricle (2.8 times). In case of the scalp, the lesions developed on the right temporal, right occipital, left occipital and left temporal regions, in decreasing order. The scalp lesions were noted in 44.7% of the total tinea patients - erythematous scaly patches affecting 69.2% of the total tinea capitis patients, followed by alopecia, black dot ringworm, seborrheic dermatitis-like scales, folliculitits, cervical lymphadenitis, kerion celsi, in decreasing order. From 360 patients (62.6%), dermatophytes were isolated - 359 strains of Trichophyton tonsurans (207 of sulfureum variety, 137 of mahogany variety, 15 of both), 1 of Microsporum canis. The varieties of T. tonsurans showed a tendency to occur in groups in the same districts and teams. CONCLUSION: Trichophytosis gladiatorum due to T. tonsurans is prevailing among Korean wrestler. Proper epidemiological measures must be taken to prevent further spreading of the disease.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia , Arthrodermataceae , Head , Leg , Lymphadenitis , Microsporum , Neck , Prevalence , Scalp , Skin , Tinea Capitis , Tinea , Trichophyton , Weights and Measures , WrestlingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Trichophytosis gladiatorum is dermatophytosis transmitted by a physical contact between wrestlers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of the illness in Korean amateur wreatlers. METHOD: The epidemiological, clinical and mycological studies were performed on dermatophytosis in a total of 1, 394 Korean amateur wrestlers through a nation-wide group examination from July, 1995 to April, 1996. RESULTS: A number of 575 (42.5%) cases of tinea were detected throughout the country among 1, 394 wrestlers. The prevalence rate of tinea in wrestling students was 48.4% for middle school, 41.4% for high school, 30% for college and above. The head and neck area was the predilection site of the skin lesions, which decreased in number as moving towards legs. As a whole, the lesions affected the right half of the body 1.7 times as more frequently as the left half. The tendency of a predilection for the right side of the body was most prominent on the head, typified by auricle (2.8 times). In case of the scalp, the lesions developed on the right temporal, right occipital, left occipital and left temporal regions, in decreasing order. The scalp lesions were noted in 44.7% of the total tinea patients - erythematous scaly patches affecting 69.2% of the total tinea capitis patients, followed by alopecia, black dot ringworm, seborrheic dermatitis-like scales, folliculitits, cervical lymphadenitis, kerion celsi, in decreasing order. From 360 patients (62.6%), dermatophytes were isolated - 359 strains of Trichophyton tonsurans (207 of sulfureum variety, 137 of mahogany variety, 15 of both), 1 of Microsporum canis. The varieties of T. tonsurans showed a tendency to occur in groups in the same districts and teams. CONCLUSION: Trichophytosis gladiatorum due to T. tonsurans is prevailing among Korean wrestler. Proper epidemiological measures must be taken to prevent further spreading of the disease.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia , Arthrodermataceae , Head , Leg , Lymphadenitis , Microsporum , Neck , Prevalence , Scalp , Skin , Tinea Capitis , Tinea , Trichophyton , Weights and Measures , WrestlingABSTRACT
We report two cases of kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton tonsurans, One is a 16-year-old male Judo-player in athletic high school and the other is a 7-year-old boy. Kerion celsi is a highly inflammatory, suppurative fungal infection of the scalp caused mainly by zoophilic dermatophytes transmitted from animals to man. The first case presented with a 4cm sized, markedly inflammatory, boggy mass on the occipital scalp. The second one showed several 2-3cm sized, erythematous, follicular pustules and plaques with partial hair loss on the frontal and parietal scalp. The diagnosis was established by histopathologic and mycologic studies that are KOH, fungus culture, slide culture and histopthologic exams of the lesional specimen. All the lesions of the patients were cleared with itraconazole for several weeks and short-term systemic steroid.