Erythema nodosum induced by kerion celsi of the scalp in a child: a case report and mini-review of literature

Abstract

A 9-year-old girl, presented with a 4-week history of an inflammatory suppurative plaque, 8 cm in diameter, localised in the occipital area of the scalp. Mycological direct examination showed ectoendothrix invasion of the hair and Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated. Oral therapy with griseofulvin 25 mg kg(-1) day(-1) was prescribed, but after 2 weeks of treatment appeared multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules localised in the legs. Erythema nodosum (EN) was confirmed by histological examination of a nodule and then we combined therapy with 1 mg Kg(-1) day(-1) of prednisone. At the remission of the panniculitis, which occurred in about 10 days, the steroid therapy was suspended, while the orally administered griseofulvin continued for 6 weeks until full recovery. EN is the most frequent clinical form of acute nodular panniculitis and it is considered an epiphenomenon relative to various infectious and non-infectious stimuli. The association of EN with dermatophytosis of the scalp is infrequent, with only 15 cases reported in the Literature.