Tinea capitis in adults: not so rare

Authors

  • Sheikh M. Ahmed Department of Dermatology,SKIMS-MCH, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
  • Suhail R. Rather Department of Dermatology,SKIMS-MCH, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
  • Hina Kousar Department of Ophthalmology, SKIMS-MCH, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
  • Shahab-ud-din Bukhari Department of Dermatology,SKIMS-MCH, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20164222

Keywords:

Adults, Clinical presentation, Immunity, Tinea capitis

Abstract

Background: Tinea capitis is the dermatophyte infection of the scalp with varied clinical presentation. Tinea capitis is predominantly seen in preadolescent adults and is rare in adults. Growing number of authors have reported increase in incidence among adults. Clinical presentation in such case is often atypical leading to delay in diagnosis.

Methods: The study included all patients older than 18 years. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. Clinical material was microscopically examined with the use of 20% KOH for hyphae and arthroconidia. The Samples were also inoculated on Sabourauds Agar and Mycosel Agar for 15 days. For each patient we collected information about sex, menstrual status, predisposing factor, symptoms and etiological agent.

Results: Out of 457 cases of tinea capitis 14 patients were adults and represented 3.06% of all cases. All patients were females. The most common etiological agent was T. violaceum (35%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (21.43%), T. tonsurans (14.29%), T. rubrum (14.29%) and T. schoenleinii (14.29%).

Conclusions: Tinea capitis in adults is not so rare, particularly in post-menopausal women. The presentation is often atypical mimicking other inflammatory conditions of scalp and should be included as a differential diagnosis of inflammatory conditions not responding to conventional treatment.

References

Sacchidanand S, Savitha A, Aparna A, Shilpa K. Significance of scraping scalp lesions in adults. Int J Trichology. 2012;4:48-9.

Morell L, Fuente MJ, Boada A, Carrascosa JM, Ferrandiz C. Tinea capitis en mujeres de edad avanzada: descripción de 4 caso. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2012;103:144-8.

Elewski E. Tinea Caitis: A Current Perspective. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42(1):1-20.

Mebazza A, Oumari KE, Ghariani N, Mili AF, Belajouza C, Nouria R, et al. Tinea Capitis in Adults in Tunisia. Int J Dermatol. 2010;49(5):513-6.

Gianni C, Betti R, Perrota E, Crosti C. Tinea Capitis in Adults. Mycosis. 1995;38(7-8):329-31.

Barlow D & Saxe N. Tinea captis in Adults. Int J Derm. 1988;27:388-90.

Ahmad SM, Wani GM, Khursheed B. Kerion mimicking bacterial infection in an elderly patient. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(6):387-92.

Ziemer A, Kohl K, Schröder G. “Trichophyton RubrumInduced Inflammatory Tinea Capitis in a 63-Year Old Man. Mycoses. 2005:48(1):76-9.

Friedlander SF, Rueda M, Chen BK, Caceros- Rios HH. Fungal, Protozoal and Helminthic infections. In: Schachner LA, Hansen RC, editors. Pediatric Dermatology. 3rd ed, Mosby; 2003:1093-140

Chen BK, Friedlander SF. Tinea Capitis update; a continuing conflict with an old adversary. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2001;13:331-5.

Vidimos AT, Camisa C, Tomecki KJ. Tinea capitis in three adults. Int J Dermatol. 1991;30(3):206-8.

Takwale A, Agarwal S, Holmes SC, Berth-Jones J. Tinea capitis in two elderly women: Transmission at the Hairdresser. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144(4):898-900.

Piñeiro L, Larruskain J, Idigoras P, Pérez-Trallero E. “Trichophyton rubrum Syndrome: The Tip of the Iceberg and a Preventable Outcome. Mycoses. 2010;53(2):186.

Lateur N, André J, De Maubeuge J, Poncin M and Song M. “Tinea Capitis in Two Black African Adults with HIV Infection. Br J Dermatol. 1999;140(4):722-4.

Narang K, Pahwa M, Ramesh V. Tinea Capitis in the Form of Concentric Rings in an HIV Positive Adult on Antiretroviral Treatment. Indian J Dermatol. 2012;57(4):288-90.

Ginter-Hanselmayer G, Weger W, Ilkit M, Smolle J. Epidemology of tinea capitis in Europe: current state and changing patterns. Mycoses. 2007;50;6-1.

Babel DE, Baughman SA. Evaluation of adult carrier state in Juvenile tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989;21:1209-12.

Trivino- Duran L, Torres- Rodriguez JM, Martinez- Roig A, Cortina C, Belver V, Perez-Gonzekz M, et al. Prevalence of tinea capitis and tinea pedis in Barcelona School children. Pediatr Infect dis J. 2005;24:137-41.

Grover C, Arora P, Manchanda PV. Tinea capitis in the pediatric population: A study from North India. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2010;76:527- 32.

Cevetti O, Albini P, Arese V, Ibba F, novarino M, Panzone M. Tinea capitis in Adults. Adv Microbiol. 2014;4:12-4.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-16

How to Cite

Ahmed, S. M., Rather, S. R., Kousar, H., & Bukhari, S.- ud- din. (2016). Tinea capitis in adults: not so rare. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 4(12), 5426–5429. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20164222

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles