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Case Reports
. 2014 Oct;5(4):494-6.
doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.142518.

Kerion mimicking bacterial infection in an elderly patient

Sheikh Manzoor Ahmad  1 , Gh Mohiuddin Wani  1 , Bilques Khursheed  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Kerion mimicking bacterial infection in an elderly patient

Sheikh Manzoor Ahmad et al. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Tinea capitis is generally thought to be a common disease in children but not in adults. When infection does occur in adults, it may have an atypical appearance. We report an elderly female with inflammatory tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton rubrum. She had numerous pustular lesions throughout the scalp with alopecia, initially treated for bacterial infection. We concluded that tinea capitis should remain in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients with alopecia and pyoderma like presentations and culture test should be routinely done in such patients to avoid complications.

Keywords: Elderly; kerion; tricophyton rubrum.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tinea capitis in an elderly female showing crusting, pustules and matting of hair with hair loss
Figure 2
Figure 2
KOH mount of scrapings showing hyphae (magnification × 40)
Figure 3
Figure 3
After six weeks of treatment, all the inflammatory lesions have cleared. Note the atrophy of skin with permanent hair loss
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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