Abstract

ANAHORY, Barbara; SANTOS, Patrícia  and  BORGES, Marta. Kerion celsi: a case report. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.6, pp.394-397. ISSN 2182-5173.

Introduction: Tinea capitis is the most common form of ringworm infection in childhood. It can have various clinical presentations, ranging from non-inflammatory scaling to a severe pustular rash called Kerion celsi. This may heal with scarring alopecia, but it can be avoided if there is timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Case description: A 12 year-old Caucasian male with no significant past medical history was seen in November 2011 in the emergency department of his local health centre. He had suppurative scaling of the scalp in the left occipito-parietal region, of five centimeters in diameter. It was painful and had been present for five months. A diagnosis of a scalp abscess was made. He was treated with systemic antibiotics. Due to progressive worsening of the lesion, in December 2011 he went to the emergency department of a local hospital, where a dermatology consultation was requested. He was diagnosed with Kerion celsi, and treatment with terbinafine (125 mg/day) and ketoconazole shampoo was started. The child was treated for three months with cure of the fungal infection, but scarring alopecia remained. Comment: Early recognition of this lesion permits proper treatment in order to prevent scarring alopecia.

Keywords : Tinea capitis; Kerion celsi; Alopecia.

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