potassium-permanganate and Erythema-Nodosum

Three children had pustular patches develop over the occipital areas of the scalp. Colonies of Trichophyton mentagrophytes grew on cultures with Sabouraud's dextrose agar with antibiotics. After a week of topical treatment with 1:10,000 potassium permanganate solution and oral treatment with griseofulvin, typical nodules of erythema nodosum appeared over the shins, ranging in diameter from 1 to 4 cm. Nodules on the legs resolved spontaneously within 12 days in the three children. Erythema nodosum occurring in patients with kerion may be interpreted as individual allergic hypersensitivity reactions as a result of the immune host response to allergenic products from the primary site of infection. This possibly may cause immune complexes that precipitate erythema nodosum.

Topics: Child; Erythema Nodosum; Female; Griseofulvin; Humans; Male; Potassium Permanganate; Scalp Dermatoses; Tinea Capitis; Trichophytin