Inflammatory tinea capitis: non-healing plaque on the occiput of a 4-year-old child.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory tinea capitis is an uncommon condition in Singapore. In this case report we present a patient whom we managed for this condition.


METHODS
A 4-year-old girl presented to us with multiple pustules over the occipital scalp for 6 weeks, associated with painful cervical lymphadenopathy. Her condition did not respond to topical and oral antibiotics.


METHODS
The patient was diagnosed with kerion (inflammatory tinea capitis) and fungal culture of plucked hairs from the kerion grew Microsporum species of dermatophyte. She was treated with a course of oral griseofulvin and topical selenium sulfide shampoo. She was advised to bring her pet cats to the veterinarian for screening, as well as not to share combs with her other siblings.


RESULTS
Her condition improved with the antifungal therapy, and there was no residual alopecia.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should consider tinea capitis when they encounter a patient with scalp folliculitis or scarring alopecia in the appropriate clinical context.
Ang
Chia Chun
CC
Department of Dermatology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. angchiachun@gmail.com
Tay
Yong Kwang
YK
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006118:Griseofulvin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008864:Microsporum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D006118:Griseofulvin; C025698:selenium disulfide