TINEA CAPITIS IN ADULTS – A DIAGNOSIS TO CONSIDER?

  • Sónia Fernandes Interna do Internato Complementar de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Resident, Dermatology and Venereology; Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Vasco Coelho Macias Interno do Internato Complementar de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Resident, Dermatology and Venereology; Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Teresa Araújo Técnica de Análises Clínicas/Medical Laboratory Technician, Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Cândido Fernandes Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Graduated Consultant, Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Raquel Vieira Assistente Hospitalar Graduada de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Graduated Consultant, Dermatology and Venereology, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Maria José Silvestre Director de Serviço de Patologia Clínica/Head of Clinical Pathology Department, Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Jorge Cardoso Director de Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia/Head of Dermatology and Venereology Department, Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa, Portugal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.70.2.32

Abstract

Tinea capitis, a dermatophytic infection of the scalp, is rare in adults, even in geographic areas with high prevalence rates. The source of the infection is usually a straight contact with cohabitants, and in adults it is mainly, but not always, associated with immunosuppression. A careful anamnesis and a complete physical examination are crucial to establish tinea capitis as a clinical diagnostic hypothesis in order to promptly collect samples for mycological studies, avoiding unnecessary additional studies or incorrect prescriptions. The authors report three cases of tinea capitis in adults – two cases caused by Microsporum audouinii and the other one caused by Trichophyton soudanense. The cases are iconographically depicted and a brief review of the relevant literature is presented.

KEYWORDS – Adulto;Tinea Capitis; Microsporum; Trichophyton; Mycological Typing Techniques.

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Published
2013-01-17
How to Cite
Fernandes, S., Macias, V. C., Araújo, T., Fernandes, C., Vieira, R., Silvestre, M. J., & Cardoso, J. (2013). TINEA CAPITIS IN ADULTS – A DIAGNOSIS TO CONSIDER?. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, 70(2), 233. https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.70.2.32
Issue
Vol 70 No 2 (2012): Abril - Junho
Section
Case Reports

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