Molecular diagnosis of kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a Italian child

Laura Trovato; Salvatore Oliveri; Maria Domina; Ildebrando Patamia; Guido Scalia; Rocco De Pasquale

doi:10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.04.010

Molecular diagnosis of kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a Italian child

Med Mycol Case Rep. 2019 Apr 27:24:72-74. doi: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2019.04.010. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Authors

Laura Trovato^{1

2}, Salvatore Oliveri^{1

2}, Maria Domina², Ildebrando Patamia^{1

2}, Guido Scalia^{1

2}, Rocco De Pasquale³

Affiliations

¹ U.O.C. Laboratory Analysis Unit, A.O.U. "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Via S. Sofia 78, Catania 95123, Italy.
² Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 97, Catania 95123, Italy.
³ U.O.C Dermatology, Vittorio Emanuele Hospital, Via Plebiscito 628, Catania 95100, Italy.

Abstract

T. tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte causing several clinical variants of tinea capitis including the Kerion celsi that can be often unrecognised or confused with other lesions. We report a case of Kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton tonsurans in a child following an excoriation to the scalp caused by a fall in a public park. The use of multiplex PCR assay has enabled rapid diagnosis of tinea capitis from T. tonsurans with a result in less than 48 hours and therefore the possibility of quickly starting antifungal therapy. The patient had a complete recovery at the end of the antifungal treatment.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Kerion celsi; Multiplex PCR; Tinea capitis; Trichophyton tonsurans.

Publication types

Case Reports