ABSTRACT
Tinea incognito or steroid modified tinea is a dermatophytic infection in which topical or systemic steroids, administered as a result of dermatological misdiagnosis or preexisting pathologies, have modified the clinical appearance of the fungal infection, transforming the typical ringworm and mimicking other skin diseases. This is a retrospective study of the agents, clinical aspects, sources of infection of 200 cases (98 males, 102 females, mean age 42 years) of tinea incognito, observed in Siena and Milan, Italy, in the period 1987-2002. In order of decreasing frequency, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton erinacei were isolated. The clinical appearance of the infection was lupus erythematosus discoid-like, eczema-like, rosacea-like, especially on the face, impetigo-like and eczema-like on trunk and limbs. Less often the dermatophytosis resembled psoriasis, purpura, seborrhoic dermatitis and lichen planus. There was folliculitis in 9% of cases and dermatophytid in 3% of cases. Antimycotic therapy brought about clinical and mycological recovery in all patients except one, who had iatrogenic immunodepression.
Subject(s)
Tinea/diagnosis , Administration, Topical , Adult , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Epidermophyton/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Italy , Male , Microsporum/isolation & purification , Mitosporic Fungi/classification , Mitosporic Fungi/isolation & purification , Retrospective Studies , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Steroids/administration & dosage , Steroids/adverse effects , Tinea/drug therapy , Tinea/microbiology , Trichophyton/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
We report a case of contact dermatitis because of ciclopiroxolamine milk in a 43-year-old woman with tinea pedis and onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum. Ciclopiroxolamine is regarded as a weak sensitiser because of the few allergic reactions described in relation to its widespread use.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology , Pyridones/adverse effects , Adult , Ciclopirox , Female , HumansABSTRACT
A case of pityriasis versicolor atrophicans caused by Malassezia globosa is reported in a 49-year-old woman. Diagnosis was based on direct microscopic examination and culture. Differential diagnosis was performed with respect to other skin diseases manifesting with cutaneous atrophy.
Subject(s)
Malassezia/isolation & purification , Tinea Versicolor/diagnosis , Tinea Versicolor/microbiology , Female , Humans , Malassezia/cytology , Malassezia/growth & development , Middle Aged , Skin/microbiology , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
A case of disto-lateral onychomycosis of the third toe of the right foot of a 45-year-old man is reported. The agent of infection was Ulocladium botrytis, a mycete not hitherto reported to infect humans. The patient underwent mycological examination consisting of direct microscope observation and culture of pathological material. Diagnosis was based on the macro- and microscopic characteristics of the colonies. Fragments of the latter were also examined by scanning electron microscope. Clinical and mycological recovery was achieved after 3 months of topical therapy with ciclopiroxolamine.
