Dermatology – Page 3

Atypical Adult-onset Still’s disease with flagellate morphology in a patient with skin of color

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A 28-year-old African American woman was diagnosed with Adult-onset Still’s disease, a rare inflammatory condition causing fever, joint pain, and skin rashes. Her rash had an unusual linear, stripe-like pattern with dark pigmentation that doesn’t typically appear in standard descriptions of this disease. She was successfully treated with anakinra and later tocilizumab, medications that reduce inflammation, leading to complete symptom resolution and sustained improvement over nine months.

First Step on the Way to Identify Dermatophytes Using Odour Fingerprints

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Researchers have developed a new method to quickly identify fungal skin infections caused by dermatophytes by detecting the unique smells (volatile compounds) they produce. Instead of waiting days or weeks for culture-based tests, this approach uses advanced chemical analysis to create a fingerprint of the fungus based on its odor. The study analyzed 47 different dermatophyte strains and found that each species and even individual strains have distinctive chemical signatures, which could one day allow doctors to diagnose infections rapidly using portable devices similar to electronic noses.

Folliculocentric tinea versicolor: a case report

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A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with an unusual presentation of tinea versicolor, a common fungal skin infection, where the fungus centered around hair follicles rather than appearing as typical patches. The condition was successfully treated with antifungal medications, though some changes persisted. The doctors noted that the patient’s history of keratosis pilaris (a common bumpy skin condition on the arms and thighs) may have contributed to this unusual follicle-focused presentation.

Tinea genitalis profunda caused by Microsporum canis: A case report and literature review

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A 23-year-old woman developed a severe fungal infection in her genital area caused by a fungus typically found in dogs. The infection initially appeared bacterial and did not respond to antibiotics. Fungal cultures identified Microsporum canis, which was successfully treated with oral antifungal medications, though the patient experienced some scarring and pigmentation changes.

Systematic Review of Tinea Nigra: A Clinical Approach

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Tinea nigra is a rare fungal skin infection that causes dark spots, usually on the palms, and is most common in tropical regions. It primarily affects younger people and women. The infection is easily diagnosed using microscopic examination and treated successfully with topical antifungal creams like ketoconazole or Whitfield’s ointment, typically clearing within 4 weeks.

A case report of childhood onychomycosis caused by the rare yeast Kodamaea ohmeri

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A 5-year-old girl in Vietnam developed a nail infection caused by a rare yeast called Kodamaea ohmeri, which typically affects adults with diabetes or weak immune systems. The infection, appearing as white discoloration on the nails, was successfully treated with a topical antifungal cream applied three times daily for one month. This is the first reported case of this rare yeast causing nail infection in a child in Vietnam, and it demonstrates that topical treatment can be effective for fungal nail infections in children whose nails are thinner than adults.

Superficial Fungal Infections in the Pediatric Dermatological Population of Northern Poland

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This study examined fungal skin infections in children and teens in Northern Poland over six years, finding that about 1 in 5 children tested had a fungal infection. Different types of fungal infections were more common at different ages—younger children more often had scalp infections, while teenagers more often had foot and nail infections. The study found that children living in rural areas had higher infection rates than those in cities, suggesting that environmental factors play an important role in fungal infection patterns.

A case of refractory onychomycosis caused by Kloeckera apiculata: Successful treatment with itraconazole

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A 32-year-old man had a stubborn fungal nail infection caused by an extremely rare yeast called Kloeckera apiculata that didn’t respond to three different antifungal treatments over several years. After being identified through specialized laboratory testing including genetic sequencing, the infection was successfully cured with a 3-month course of the oral antifungal medication itraconazole. This case is notable because it is only the fourth known case of this rare fungal infection in humans and the first one to achieve complete cure with itraconazole treatment.

A characteristic rash caused by Shiitake mushrooms – An emerging concern?

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Eating raw or undercooked Shiitake mushrooms can cause a distinctive whip-like rash in some people called Shiitake mushroom dermatitis. This dramatic rash appears 2-5 days after consumption but is not dangerous and goes away on its own in 10-14 days. The condition is caused by a compound called Lentinan that breaks down when mushrooms are cooked at higher temperatures, so properly cooking Shiitake mushrooms prevents the reaction.

Photo Quiz: Asteroid bodies in a skin biopsy of a farmer

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A farmer developed a chain of red nodules on his arm after a wrist injury, which was diagnosed as sporotrichosis, a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix globosa. The diagnosis was confirmed through tissue biopsy, which showed distinctive asteroid bodies – yeast cells surrounded by radiating material that represents the body’s immune response. The infection was successfully treated with oral potassium iodide over 6 months, resulting in complete healing.

Research Topic: Dermatology