Tinea capitis in adults: retrospective study in southern Tunisia

Tinea capitis occurs rarely in adults. It is characterized by some particular clinical features. Local and general contributing conditions need to be identified. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency of tinea capitis in adults in our region, to study the clinical features, the causative agents and the possible contributing factors in a series of 66 patients. Women were more commonly affected, the sex ratio being 3.7 (F/M). The mean age was 33. Clinical familial history was found in 5 cases. Contact with animals was reported in 3 cases. Systemic steroid treatment was reported in 4 cases and positive serology for HIV in one case. The lesions were erythematous and scaling in 37 cases (56%). A typical favus scutulum was observed in one case. Tinea capitis was associated with a tinea corporis in 22 patients and with onychomycosis in 2 cases. Trichophyton Violaceum was responsible for tinea capitis in 83% of the cases. Tinea capitis is rarely diagnosed in adults; it occurs most frequently in pre-menopausal women. The fact that clinical features are sometimes atypical often results in a protracted course and a delay in diagnosis. Erythematous and sometimes crusted scaling plaques are the main clinical presentation. Contact with children suffering from tinea capitis is frequent. Tinea capitis is not only seen in immuno-compromised patients. For some authors, a correlation might exist between the severity of immuno-suppression and clinical presentation of tinea capitis, mainly in HIV patients. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.