Epidemiological study of tinea capitis in Puerto Rico

Two separate studies were carried out to determine the dermatophytes responsible for tinea capitis in Puerto Rico. A retrospective study to determine those agents during the period between 1979 and 1989 revealed a total of 36 mycologically positive cases. The causative organisms consisted of the following species: M. canis, 14 cases (38.9 per cent ); T. mentagrophytes, 7 cases (19.4 per cent ); T. rubrum, 7 cases (19.4 per cent ); M. gypseum, 5 cases (13.9 per cent ); and T. tonsurans, T. verrucosum, unclassified Microsporum species, 1 case each (2.8 per cent each). In a prospective study, fungal cultures were obtained from the scalps of 95 randomly selected children (45 males, 50 females) seen at the outpatient dermatology clinics of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico for a variety of skin problems but with no symptoms or signs of disease. One culture was positive for M. canis. All other cultures were negative. The significance of these findings is discussed as well as their relation to the incidence of T. tonsurans scalp infections in the Unites States

Cutaneous drug reactions

Cutaneous drug reactions are among the most common causes of skin eruptions in hospitalized patients. In outpatient clinics, drug eruptions represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the physician as any drug can cause an adverse cutaneous reactions. These reactions may be mediated by immunologic or nonimmunologic mechanisms. Cutaneous drug reactions may manifest themselves in various clinical morphologic patterns. Factors such as sun-exposure, concomitant drugs or diseases and host immune status can influence the type and morphology of lesions. History taking is one of the most important aspects in the evaluation of these patients and must be oriented so as to provide the information that will lead to the final diagnosis