Tinea Capitis: Correlation of Clinical Aspects, Findings on Direct Mycological Examination, and Agents Isolated from Fungal Culture

BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis (TC) is a dermatophytosis of the scalp caused by the Trichophyton and Microsporum genera. The condition can be classified according to clinical symptoms or based on mycological presentations observed on direct examination. Treatment is best determined after isolation of the causative agent, with griseofulvin indicated for Microsporum and terbinafine for Trichophyton. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study correlating clinical and mycological classifications with agents isolated from culture of patients seen at a tertiary hospital in São Paulo (Brazil) between May 15, 2017, and January 11, 2019. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were treated, comprising 19 (83%) with alopecic clinical aspect (14 [60%] trichophytic and five [23%] microsporic) and 4 (17%) with kerion celsi presentation. According to the parasite invasion at the hair shaft, 9 (40%) were endothrix and 14 (60%) were ectothrix cases. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated from culture in 14 (60%) patients and Microsporum canis in 5 (40%) patients. A statistically significant association was found for mycological classification and agent isolated from culture (P = 0.003) with associations of the endothrix form with T. tonsurans and of ectothrix with M. canis. CONCLUSIONS: The mycological classification appears to be a valid method for suggesting the etiological agent of TC.