Avneet Singh Kalsi

Abstract

Dermatophytes are aerobic fungi which invade and infect the keratinized layers of skin, hair, and nails. The infection so caused is known as dermatophytosis, and it spreads by direct contact with other people (anthropophilic organisms), animals (zoophilic organisms), and soil (geophilic organisms), as well as indirectly from fomites. Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp along with eyebrows and eyelashes. Kerion is a severe inflammatory form of tinea capitis with delayed hypersensitivity reaction against dermatophytes. Here we report a case of a HIV positive, child of African origin with tinea capitis and multiple kerions. Keywords: Tinea capitis, Kerions, Trichophyton violaceum.

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Abstract

High prevalence of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for very high burden of mycotic infections. Also, most of the countries here have highly burdened health system compared to their health budget. Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of fingers and toenails. It is usually caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds (NDM). Prevalence and severity of infection is more in immunosuppressed individuals, especially with HIV/AIDS. The laboratory diagnosis of the causative organism is very important to initiate the specific treatment. Persistence of infection can be the source of infection to the patient himself by autoinoculation and to others. The treatment of HIV/AIDS is mandatory. Onychomycosis in HIV/AIDS patients is usually due to Trichophyton rubrum and involve the toenails. The reports of onychomycosis due to dermatophytes from sub-Saharan Africa are scanty. There are only two reports, which have mentioned onychomycosis due to Trichophyton violaceum (T.violaceum) and involvement of fingernails in HIV/AIDS.   Keywords: Onychomycosis, HIV/AIDS, Trichophyton violaceum, Lacto Phenol Cotton Blue (LPCB)

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