Kerion

Kerion is the result of the host's response to a fungal ringworm infection of the hair follicles of the scalp (occasionally the beard) that can be accompanied by secondary bacterial infection(s). It usually appears as raised, spongy lesions, and typically occurs in children.[1] This honeycomb is a painful inflammatory reaction with deep suppurative lesions on the scalp. Follicles may be seen discharging pus. There may be sinus formation and rarely mycetoma-like grains are produced. It is usually caused by dermatophytes (fungal infections of the skin affecting humans and animals) such as Trichophyton verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes,[1] and Microsporum canis. Treatment with oral griseofulvin common.[1]

Kerion
Kerion

Symptoms

There may be loss of hair as hair will come out easily.[2] Sometimes, there is growth of organisms.[3] Lymph and fever symptoms may be present. This condition can be mistaken for a case of impetigo.[4]

Diagnosis

The basis for the diagnosis of Kerion is clinical finding, positive microscopic examinations (such as positive KOH preparation, Lactophenol cotton blue wet mount, Chicago sky blue stained (CSB) slide, Calcofluor white stained slide, Periodic acid–Schiff stained slide, and Gomori’s methenamine silver stained slide), mycological culture and modern molecular tests (such as PCR-reverse line blot test, real-time PCR test, multiplex PCR test, PCR-ELISA test, and MALDI-TOF test) of clinical specimens. Wood's lamp (blacklight) examination will reveal a bright green to yellow-green fluorescence of hairs infected by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. Mentagrophytes, in kerion infection caused by Trichophyton verrucosum Invaded hairs show an ectothrix infection and fluorescence under Wood's ultra-violet light has been noted in cattle but not in humans.[5]

Treatment

Unlike most other manifestations of Tinea dermatophyte infections, Kerion is not sufficiently treated with topical antifungals and requires systemic therapy. Typical therapy consists of oral antifungals, such as griseofulvin or terbinafine, for a sustained duration of at least 6-8 weeks depending on severity. Successful treatment of kerion often requires empiric bacterial antibiotics given the high prevalence of secondary bacterial infection.[6]

See also

References

  1. Uprety, Shraddha; Sharma, Ramesh (2016-09-08). "Kerion — A Boggy Lump". New England Journal of Medicine. 375 (10): 980. doi:10.1056/NEJMicm1514152. PMID 27602670.
  2. "Management of Tinea Capitis". The International Foundation for Dermatology. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  3. L. C. Fuller; F. J. Child; G. Midgley; E. M. Higgins (March 8, 2003). "Diagnosis and management of scalp ringworm". BMJ. 326 (7388): 539–541. doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7388.539. PMC 1125423. PMID 12623917.
  4. "Cause of Kerion Ringworm Scalp Condition, Kerions Treatment". Health Blurbs. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  5. Khalid, Mohamed (2019). "LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF THE CAUSATIVE DERMATOPHYTES OF TINEA CAPITIS" (PDF). World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 8 (6): 85–99. doi:10.20959/wjpr20196-14850 (inactive 2019-08-20). Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  6. "Kerion". DermNet New Zealand. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
Classification
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.