Inflammatory Tinea capitis: a 12-year study and a review of the literature.

Inflammatory Tinea capitis (TC) is a rare form of TC. The aim of this study was to review epidemiological, clinical and mycological profile of inflammatory TC. We present a retrospective study (1999-2010), enrolled all the cases of inflammatory TC observed at a referral hospital in the northern Tunisia. One hundred and twenty-one patients with inflammatory TC, 83 male patients (68.6%) and 38 female patients (31.4%) were enrolled. The mean age was about 8 years. A majority of TC (71.9%) were in patients lesser than 10 years of age. Positive family history and contact with animals were noted in seven and 35 cases respectively. Direct examination was positive in 110 cases (59 ectothrix, 51 endothrix) and positive cultures were obtained in 105 patients (49 Trichophyton violaceum, 31 Microsporum canis, 13 Trichophyton interdigitale complex, 12 Trichophyton verrucosum). Systemic treatment was carried out in 115 patients with griseofulvin, in one with terbinafine. A complete recovery was noted in 88 cases; and persistent alopecia in 28 cases. The inflammatory TC is rare, but more common in rural families. The disease mostly affected male genders (68.6%) and T. violaceum remains the common pathogen of inflammatory TC in northern Tunisia.

Severity of acne and its impact on quality of life.

Acne is a chronic disease that is especially common among adolescents. It can have a considerable psychological and social impact that is not always correlated with clinical severity. The aim of this paper was to evaluate clinical severity and alteration of quality of life in acne patients, and to investigate a possible correlation between the two. A total of 82 patients with juvenile acne were included in this study. The clinical severity of acne was evaluated using the Echelle de Cotation des Lésions d'Acné (ECLA) scale. The Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) was used to assess acne-related quality of life. Acne was mild to moderate in 61% of patients (ECLA < or = 12). A considerable alteration of quality of life was present in 51% of cases. There was a positive correlation between overall scores on the ECLA and CADI scales (P = .012) before and after treatment. Additionally, CADI score improved after effective treatment of acne. Acne may have an important impact on teenagers' psychological and social life. An objective assessment of this impact seems to be necessary. ECLA and CADI scores appear to be objective and simple instruments that may be used in acne management.

[Cutaneous carcinoma induced by radiotherapy: a report of 31 cases]. / Carcinomes cutanés induits par la radiothérapie: a propos de 31 cas.

BACKGROUND: Depilatory radiotherapy was used in the sixties as a treatment for ringworm in Tunisia. Subsequently some of these patients developed radio-induced carcinomas of the scalp. AIM: To present the epidemiological, clinical, pathological,therapeutic features and out come of radio-induced cutaneous carcinomas. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study performed in the dermatology department of the La Rabta hospital of Tunis over a 6- year-period recording all histologically confirmed carcinomas in patients irradiated in childhood for tinea capitis. RESULTS: Thirty one patients were included with 49 tumors: 47 basal cell carcinomas and 2 squamous cell carcinomas. The average latent period between the irradiation and the appearance of the carcinomas was of 35.7 years. The average age was 53 years. A male predominance was noted, with a sex ratioM/F of 6.75. Clinically, basal cell carcinomas were nodular in all cases. Surgery was indicated in 90% of cases. Cryosurgery and radiotherapy were used respectively in 1 and 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that radio-induced cutaneous carcinomas are widely dominated by basal cell carcinoma. They arise, approximately, ten years earlier than carcinoma in patients with no history of scalp irradiation. However X-ray exposure does not seem to influence clinical or histological presentation, therapeutic modalities nor prognosis of these tumors. The prognosis of radioinduced cutaneous carcinomas was globally similar to that of other cutaneous carcinomas with same histological type and equivalent degree of invasion.

Childhood erythema nodosum associated with kerion celsi: a case report and review of literature.

Erythema nodosum (EN) in association with kerion celsi is a rare condition in children, with only 11 cases having been reported in the English literature. We describe a new case in a 7-year-old boy in whom the disorder had begun 2 months before. He had many inflamed, boggy, suppurative nodules over the left occipitoparietal area of the scalp and, 2 weeks later, developed multiple painful, erythematous subcutaneous nodules of the shins, thighs, and upper limbs. EN was confirmed by histologic examination. Our review of the literature of all cases of EN during kerion showed that it usually occurs at or slightly after the height of infection or after drug introduction. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was involved in the majority of cases, and improvement of EN usually occurs with griseofulvin.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia revealed by a branulomatous zosteriform eruption.

A 70-year-old woman presented with an atypical erythematopapular zosteriform eruption of 3 weeks' duration. The patient had no history of previous vesicular eruption. She developed a painful burning sensation on the neck. Clinical examination revealed a cluster of small erythematous firm papules and plaques in a zosteriform distribution on the left ear, face, neck, and shoulder (Figure 1A). The lesions were unilateral and did not cross the midline. Multiple cervical and axillary lymph nodes were palpable. Laboratory tests revealed an increase in white blood cells of 25,000/mm3, with 17,910/mm3 lymphocytes and a normal range of hemoglobin, platelets, creatinine, and liver enzymes. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 87 mm. Blood smear results showed small, morphologically mature lymphocyte cells. In immune phenotyping, lymphocyte cells co-express CD5 and B-cell-surface antigens CD19 and CD23, as well as a restriction of kappa immunoglobulin light chains. The cells were CD22-, CD79b-, CD38-, CD10-, CD25- and FMC7-. Computed thoracoabominal tomography revealed cervical, mediastinal, abdominal, and pelvic adenopathy confirming the diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) stage B. Histology of a skin biopsy from a papule showed a dense nodular granulomatous infiltrate in the dermis (Figure 2A). The infiltrate contained epithelioid and giant cells surrounded by lymphocytes and plasma cells. Small monomorphic lymphocytes without mitotic figures predominated (Figure 2B). The epidermis was irregularly thickened. Immunohistology revealed a polymorphous infiltrate with a phenotype of reactive T lymphocytes (CD3, CD5 positive) (Figure 2C), B lymphocytes (CD20 positive) (Figure 2D). Epithelioid and giant cells were positive for CD68 (Figure 2E). A latent herpes zoster infection with granulomatous reaction at the site ofzoster lesions was highly suspected as the patient reported a unilateral burning sensation without a history of vesicular zosteriform eruption. She received treatment with intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg every 8 hours. The papular lesions resolved markedly (60%) on macular plaques at the end of the treatment. Following topical treatment with corticosteroids, the lesions healed completely within 4 weeks (Figure 1B). Concerning leukemia, our patient was monitored without therapy by the hematologist.

Letter: Tinea capitis in infants in their first 2 years of life: A 12-year study and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis (TC) is a dermatophyte infection that occurs mainly in childhood; but it is uncommon in infants. The aim of this study was to review the clinical and mycological profile of TC in infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective study; we enrolled all the cases of infant TC over a period of 12 years (1999-2010). RESULTS: Thirty-five infants (21 boys, 14 girls) with a mean age of 20.16 months were diagnosed with TC among a total number of 881 cases of TC (3.9%). Scalp scaling and alopecia were the most frequent clinical features. Microsporic tinea (21 cases) was the most frequent followed by Trichophytic tinea (9 cases) and inflammatory tinea (5 cases). Direct microscopy of hair was positive in 33 cases (94.2%). Culture positivity was found in 82.8 percent of infants (29 cases). Four species of dermatophytes were isolated; Microsporum canis in 18 cases (62%) followed by Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton verrucosum. Twenty-nine infants were treated successfully with griseofulvin. DISCUSSION: TC is rare in infants. The diagnosis of TC should be considered if scaling and/or alopecia are present and should be confirmed by mycology testing prior to initiation of treatment.

[Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Study of 22 cases]. / La pustulose exanthématique aiguë généralisée: etude de 22 cas.

BACKGROUND: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is an uncommon but severe dermatosis, characterized by acute occurrence of fever, and erythemato-oedematous rash, covered by sterile nonfollicular pustules. Most cases of AGEP have been described in association with the intake of drugs. AIM: To determine clinical and prognostic features of AGEP in our patients. METHODS: All cases of AGEP diagnosed between 1992 and 2007 according to EuroSCAR criteria have been collected. RESULTS: Twenty two patients (16 female, 6 male) with a mean age of 40.9 years (19-81) were included in the study. Clinical features showed in all cases an acute eruption with oedematous erythema, rapidly covered by nonfollicular pustules. The rash was mainly localized on big folds, trunk and/or limbs in 14 cases and generalized in 8 cases. A biological cytolysis was noted in 5 cases and a functional acute renal failure was objected in 2 cases. Etiological work up has found an association with the intake of drugs in 14 cases, a toxic cause (mercury) in 1 case and a B19 parvovirus infection in one case. The mean delay between drug intake and beginning of the eruption was 5 days (24 hours- 15 days). Pharmacovigilance enquiry has concluded to a probable or plausible causality in all our cases. Clinical features improved with drug or toxic withdrawal with a mean delay of 7 days (4 -12 days). A relapse of AGEP was observed in 2 cases after accidental introduction of the drug. CONCLUSION: AGEP is a cutaneous side effect not to ignore, because of its severe prognosis in case of systemic involvement and the possibility of relapses in case of retake of the causal drug.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: a disease with male predominance in Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory, suppurating, fistulizing, and scar-producing disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin. The diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on the presence of both sinus tracts and abscesses with a characteristic distribution. OBJECTIVE: Review of epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic characteristics of HS and discussion of the etiopathogenic aspects of this chronic problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively report all cases of HS followed at the Department of Dermatology between January 1985 and December 2008. RESULTS: Eleven patients (10 male and 1 female), with a mean age of 35.2 years (range 21 dash, vertical53 years) at HS diagnosis were followed for HS. The average age of disease onset was 23.9 years. The median delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 144 months (range 1 dash, vertical408 months). Clinical features showed inflamed discharging papules or nodules, painful tender erythematous nodules, and double-ended comedones. The disease mainly affected the axillary, anal, perineal, and genital areas. Histologically, dermal features showed active folliculitis or abscess, sinus tract formation, fibrosis, and granuloma formation. Pathological associations (Darier's disease and Down syndrome) were noted in two patients. Treatment consisted of antibiotics in eight patients, retinoids (1 mg/kg/ day) in three patients, and surgery in three patients. The mean follow-up was 13 months (range 2 dash, vertical30 months). Recurrence of lesions was observed in all patients approximately 1 month after treatment withdrawal. The Down syndrome patient developed vaginal hydrocele of the testis as a complication of his staphylococcic ulcers. In all cases healing occurred with substantial scarring. DISCUSSION: An obvious male predominance was noted in our patients as well as a delay in the diagnosis of HS, which could be explained by non-recognition of the disease by non-specialists that see the patients at the primary-care level.

[Systemic corticosteroids and their place in the management of hemorrhagic erysipelas]. / Place de la corticothérapie générale dans le traitement de l'érysipèle hémorragique.

BACKGROUND: Haemorrhagic erysipelas is a recently described clinical condition. AIM: Our aim is to study the clinical and evolutive particularities of haemorrhagic erysipelas treated with adjuvant corticotherapy. METHODS: It's a retrospective study of 6 cases of erysipelas of the lower limbs with serious local signs (purpura, bullae, petechia). RESULTS: Surgical examination as well as evaluation of muscular enzymes blood level were achieved in all cases. Adequate antibiotherapy and rapidly degressive systemic corticosteroids (0.5 mg/Kg daily) were prescribed. Fever, pain and cutaneous signs regressed rapidly. Haemorrhagic erysipelas is different from common erysipelas by the presence of serious local signs (bullae, purpura), by its bad response to adequate antibiotics and by its response to systemic steroids.

[Dermatologic disorders of the athlete: a report of 30 cases?]. / Les dermatoses du sportif: a propos de 30 athletes.

BACKGROUND: Participation in athletic activities is associated with a variety of skin problems. We aimed to precise the most important sports related dermatoses in athletes. METHODS: We conducted transversal study on 30 athletes of 2 teams: one of soccer and the other of basketball players. For each athlete dermatological exam was practiced. RESULTS: 18 soccer players and 12 basketball players were enrolled; the mean age was about 25.3 years [18-35 years]. The results suggest that athletic activity seems to be a predisposing factor for cutaneous infections (87%) especially fungal infections (90%). Traumatic lesions were also frequent in our athletes (20/30), dominated by calluses and nail disorders (80%). CONCLUSION: Sports-related dermatoses include infections, traumatic entities, allergic contact dermatitis, environmental encounters, exacerbation of preexisting dermatoses, thus regular dermatological screening of athletes is critical for rapid identification and treatment of dermatoses distrusting sport performance.