potassium-permanganate and Tinea-Capitis

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

Fungal infections of the skin in children are common and may mimic many other dermatoses. Diagnostic techniques are simple and inexpensive; Wood's light examination, KOH wet mounts, and preferably fungal culture should be performed on all suspected lesions.

Topics: Acetates; Adolescent; Aluminum; Arthrodermataceae; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Candidiasis, Oral; Child, Preschool; Dermatomycoses; Humans; Onychomycosis; Potassium Permanganate; Tinea Capitis; Tinea Pedis; Tinea Versicolor; Undecylenic Acids