ABSTRACT
Introduction: Inflammatory tinea capitis (TC) is uncommon in adults. Case Presentation: A 29-year-old healthy woman presented with a 2-year history of scalp alopecia with purulent discharge. Clinical, trichoscopic, and histological features and the negativity of a first fungal sampling were consistent with the diagnosis of dissecting cellulitis of the scalp. A second mycological examination guided by trichoscopy was carried out, showing tinea endothrix. Fungal culture isolated trichophyton violaceum. The patient was treated with terbinafine with complete healing. Conclusion: The diagnosis of adult TC is challenging, mainly the inflammatory form. An exhaustive trichoscopic examination of all alopecic plaques may help make a rapid diagnosis and provide a guide to the mycological examination.
ABSTRACT
Introduction. Malaria had been eliminated in Tunisia since 1979, but there are currently 40 to 50 imported cases annually. Soldiers are no exception as the incidence of imported malaria is increasing in Tunisian military personnel after returning from malaria-endemic area, often in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and biological presentations, treatment, and outcomes of 37 Tunisian military personnel hospitalized at the Department of Internal Medicine, the Military Hospital of Tunis, between January 1993 and January 2011, for imported malaria. The clinical and laboratory features were obtained from the medical records and a questionnaire was filled by the patients about the compliance of malaria prophylaxis. Results. Thirty-seven male patients, with a mean age of 41 years, were treated for malaria infection. Twenty-two were due to Plasmodium falciparum. The outcome was favourable for all patients, despite two severe access. The long-term use of chemoprophylaxis has been adopted by only 21 (51%) of expatriate military for daily stresses. Moreover, poor adherence was found in 32 patients. Conclusion. The risk of acquiring malaria infection in Tunisian military personnel can largely be prevented by the regular use of chemoprophylactic drugs combined with protective measures against mosquito bites.
