Dermatophytoses are common fungal infections caused by dermatophytes but there are few data about this condition in the childhood. 137 children below the age of 12 and clinically diagnosed as tineas were investigated prospectively at Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria, Rio de Janeiro, from 1994 to 1999. Hair, skin/nails scraping and pus swabs were collected from lesions and processed for fungus. Male children from 2 to 12 years were mostly affected; tinea capitis (78 cases) mainly caused by Microsporum canis (46 cases) was the most common clinical form. Tinea corporis (43 cases) mainly caused by Trichophyton rubrum (17 cases) accounted for the second most frequent clinical form. Tinea cruris (10 cases) with Trichophyton rubrum (5 cases) as the most common etiologic agent accounted for the third most frequent clinical form. Tinea pedis and tinea unguium were much less frequent (3 cases each). Trichophyton rubrum was the most common etiologic agent isolated in these cases (3 cases).

Tinea nigra is a superficial fungal infection caused by Hortaea werneckii. It typically affects young individuals as an asymptomatic unilateral macule, from light brown to black on the palms and soles, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. In 1997, Gupta et al. [Br J Dermatol 1997;137:483-484] described the dermoscopic characteristics of tinea nigra. Topical antifungals with or without keratolytic agents can be used for the treatment. The authors report a case of a 47-year-old man with asymptomatic light brown macules bilaterally on the plantar regions. Dermoscopic examination revealed brownish spicules consistent with the pattern described in the literature. Treatment with isoconazole cream was effective with complete resolution.

Background Epidemiological studies indicate that onychomycosis may affect up to 79% of psoriatic patients. Onychomycosis in psoriatic patients is more commonly caused by yeasts comparing with non‐psoriatic. Objectives Evaluate the prevalence of fungi in nail psoriasis. Evaluate the association between direct mycological examination (DME) and mycological culture, Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and systemic treatment for psoriasis. Methods Of 133 nails from 20 patients with nail psoriasis were evaluated as follows: 9 patients were using topical treatment and 11 were on systemic treatment. The assessment of psoriasis severity using NAPSI was performed in all psoriatic nails. The presence of fungi was confirmed in DME and culture. Results DME showed the presence of fungal elements in 45 nails (33.83%) with a predominance of blastoconidia (95.5%) No septate hyphae were seen. Mycological culture was positive in 36 (27.06%) samples. Among them, Candida grew in 31 (86.1%): Candida parapsilosis in 15 (48.38%), Candida spp in 14 (45.16%). No growth of dermatophytes was observed. Patients with systemic treatment showed a higher frequency of positive test (DME and culture) for fungi when compared to topic treatment (p:.006). There was a positive correlation between NAPSI, mycological culture and systemic treatment (p:.0063); the risk was four times higher (OR:4.0). Limitation of the study Sample size. Conclusion These results are consistent with some previous reports, Candida was the fungus with higher frequency on the psoriatic nails, however, the role of these fungi is controversial (contamination x colonisation x infection). The fact that the immunosuppressive treatment increases the chance of fungal infection leads us to a greater attention to this patient profile, to prevent the intensification of nail psoriasis (Köbner phenomenon).

Resumo: Os autores relatam um caso de paniculite criptocócica em paciente transplantado renal inicialmente tratado como celulite bacteriana. O diagnóstico definitivo só foi possível pela impressão clínica dermatológica confirmada pelo exame micológico. O tratamento foi realizado a princípio com anfotericina B e posteriormente com fluconazol, considerando-se as interações das drogas imunossupressoras utilizadas para evitar rejeição. A regressão clínica foi alcançada no sexto mês de tratamento, que, no entanto, foi mantido por 12 meses. São feitas considerações a respeito dessa forma rara de criptococose cutânea em transplantado de órgão sólido e suas implicações diagnósticas e terapêuticas. Maria da Glória C. Barreiros 5A criptococose é infecção fúngica de comportamento oportunista, pouco comum em pacientes imunocompetentes, mas freqüente em imunocomprometidos , especialmente naqueles com deficiência predominante da imunidade celular. Assim, os portadores da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (Aids) e os transplantados de órgãos sólidos podem ser considerados integrantes da população de risco. [1][2][3] O sítio mais acometido é o pulmonar, já que a via inalatória é a principal porta de entrada da infecção, podendo haver posterior disseminação para outros órgãos. Nos pacientes de criptococose disseminada, o acometimento da pele pode ocorrer em 10-15% dos casos, 2,4 com apresentação variável incluindo paniculite. 5,4 Nos transplantados renais, a criptococose ocorre em 0,8 -5% dos pacientes, na dependência do tipo e da intensidade da imunossupressão.3 A infecção é geralmente observada no pós-operatório tardio, cerca de quatro meses após a introdução das drogas imunossupressoras.

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