Analysis of Adult Patients with Tinea Capitis in Southeastern Korea

Abstract

Background: Tinea capitis is a cutaneous infection of dermatophytes and predominant in children. Although tinea capitis in Korea is controlled by oral antifungal medications and concerted public health initiatives, it's still a health issue. Objective: To investigate changes in the epidemiological and mycological characteristics of adult patients with tinea capitis in southeastern Korea. Methods: Using medical records from Kyungpook National University Hospital and Catholic Skin Clinic from 1989 to 2018, we retrospectively investigated the epidemiological and mycological characteristics of 266 adult patients (aged over 20) with tinea capitis. Results: Among total 266 patients, 239 were KOH-positive. The annual incidence of tinea capitis ranged from 3 to 18 between 1989 and 2018. Of the total, 54 (20.30%) were male and 212 (79.70%) were female. Eighty patients (30.08%) were in their seventies, the most commonly affected age group. Of the remaining, 58 (21.80%) were in their sixties, and 41 (15.41%) in eighties. Among all, 77 (28.95%) visited the hospital in summer, 72 (27.07%) in spring, 64 (24.06%) in winter, and 53 (19.92%) in fall. Dermatophytes were cultured from 171 patients. Microsporum canis was the most common dermatophyte (42.48%), while Trichophyton ru-brum was the second (15.79%). Of the 266 patients, 186 (69.92%) lived in urban areas and 80 (30.08%) in rural areas. Conclusion:The epidemiological and mycological characteristics of adult patients with tinea capitis were different from those of children in terms of annual incidence, sex distribution, and isolated dermatophytes. These results provide useful information for the treatment and prevention of tinea capitis. (Ann Dermatol 32(2) 109∼114, 2020

Coexistence of Malassezia Species and Microsporum canis in the Lesions of Adult with Tinea Capitis

“…In Europe and Southeastern Korea, Microsporum canis is still the most commonly reported causative agent of tinea capitis. 4 , 10 In Portugal, the most common etiological agents are Microsporum audouinii (20%) and Trichophyton rubrum (20%). 9 Changing in hygiene conditions and lifestyle in America and England, have resulted in a different epidemiology of dermatophytosis, with Trichophyton tonsurans emerging as the most prevalent species.…”

“…In recent years, several studies have shown an increasing incidence of tinea capitis in healthy adults, which emphasizes the necessity for greater attention to this condition in future research. 2 , 4 Adult tinea capitis often presents with mild inflammatory symptoms, making a challenge in differentiation from psoriasis capitis, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis of the scalp. 5 This might be attributed to the development of sebaceous glands during puberty, which secrete long-chain fatty acids known for their antifungal properties.…”

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses and onychomycoses in Ireland (2001–2020): A single‐institution review

“…Irrespective, the strength of this study is provision of a detailed overview of the epidemiology of the fungal cultures of skin, analysis of dermatophyte detections worldwide. Many cover ss al one, 15,18,19,21,23,24,27,29,30,31,44,45,46,47,48,49,50 others cover onychomycosis and tinea pedis alone, 39,40,41,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63 including the only article in this search from the UK and Ireland. 61 Eighteen articles were identified where all dermatomycoses were analysed, 14,16,17,20,22,26,28,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74 but just five of…”

“…In contrast, other regions remain predominated by zoophilic species, prinicipally Microsporum canis (e.g. Greece, 24 Germany, 25 Romania, 26 Algeria, 27 Argentina, 28 Brazil, 29 Korea 30 and Taiwan 31 ). It is also postulated that infections from some nominally zoophilic strains may indeed be of human origin, as evidenced by a clonal strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes detected in a cluster of pubogenital infections in Germany for which no animal source has been found till date 32 …”