Diagnosis and management of superficial cutaneous fungal infections in children
Theos, A.
Pediatric Annals 36(1): 46-54
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-4481 PMID: 17269283 Document Number: 613666
Superficial cutaneous fungal infections account for up to 15% of all outpatient pediatric visits in the United States. The responsible organisms are classified as dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds. Dermatophytes are a group of closely related fungi that have the unique ability to invade and multiply within the cornified layers of the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatophytes belong to one of three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Table 1 (see page 49) lists the dermatophytes most commonly isolated in North America. Infections caused by dermatophytes (collectively referred to as dermatophytoses) are named "tinea" followed by the Latin name for the involved body part (see Table 2, page 49). Onychomycosis is frequently used to describe dermatophyte infections of the nails, but also encompasses non-dermatophyte infections (eg, Candida, molds). Dermatophytes are exogenous pathogens, and infections are acquired via direct contact with infected humans, animals, fomites, and, less frequently, the soil. Tinea capitis is the most common fungal infection in prepubertal children, followed in frequency by tinea corporis, tinea pedis, and tinea unguium. This article reviews the clinical features, differential diagnosis, and management of dermatophyte infections in children, excluding tinea capitis, which was recently reviewed in Pediatric Annals.