Tinea Capitis in the paediatric population in Milan, Italy : the emergence of trichophyton violaceum

Tinea capitis (TC) is the most common type of dermatophytosis in children. The epidemiology of TC depends on the geographical areas, and it changes over time. The aim of the study is to determine the incidence of TC and to identify the causative species in children observed at Dermatology Outpatient Department of the University of Milan, Italy, between January 2004 and December 2011. Four hundred and eighty-six children with suspected dermatomycosis were observed; TC was the most prevalent dermatomycoses with 86 cases. The most common isolated dermatophyte in scalp lesions was Trichophyton violaceum with 33 cases. The most recent epidemiological Italian studies still show zoophilic fungi as primary cause of TC. We are the first medical team in Italy to demonstrate a dominance of anthropophilic fungi, in particular T. violaceum

Mastocitosi cutanea papulosa congenita. Congenital papular cutaneous mastocytosis

Mastocytosis is defined as a heterogeneous group of dosorders characterized by accumulation of mastcells. Childhood mastocytosis is usually limited solely to the skin and resolves slowly over the first 1-2 decades of life. Systematic involvement in children is extremely rare. It is important to establish a correct diagnosis and therapeutic flow chart for these patients

Tinea corporis due to trichophyton rubrum in a woman and tinea capitis in her 15-day-old baby: molecular evidence of vertical transmission

We report a case of a 40-year-old Caucasian woman who came under our observation with a 7-year history of a chronic erythematous scaly dermatitis, diagnosed as psoriasis, involving gluteal area and thighs, and treated with topical steroids without benefit. During pregnancy, a progressive worsening of her condition and an extension of cutaneous lesions were observed. Her newborn, a 15-day-old girl, presented a similar scaly and squamous lesion on her scalp. Mycological examination was positive for Trichophyton rubrum in both cases, and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis confirmed the isogenicity of the two isolates. We performed a diagnosis of T. rubrum tinea corporis and tinea capitis. The case we describe illustrates an unusual clinical presentation of tinea corporis with remarkable extension of cutaneous lesions due to the diagnostic delay and the continuous use of local steroids, together with a rare tinea capitis in the newborn. Our experience highlights the possibility of mother-child transmission and the importance of an early diagnosis

A rare case of subcutaneous fusariosis in an immunocompetent patient

Fusarium species can cause diseases in immunocompromised patients, whereas have rarely been reported as pathogens in immunocompetent individuals. Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani species complex are the most frequent pathogenic species. Primary subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis due to these filamentous fungi is an extremely rare pathology, especially in immunocompetent patients. Only 37 cases of deep Fusarium infection in healthy patient have been reported in international literature. We report a case of subcutaneous infection due to F. solani species complex in a healthy 45-year-old man presenting with painful nodular lesion on the left ankle, appeared seven years earlier