Kerion

Symptoms and signs

There may be loss of hair as hair will come out easily. Sometimes, there is growth of organisms. Lymph and fever symptoms may be present. This condition can be mistaken for a case of impetigo.

Diagnosis

The basis for the diagnosis of kerion is clinical finding, positive microscopic examinations (such as positive KOH preparation, Lactophenol cotton blue wet mount, Chicago sky blue stained (CSB) slide, Calcofluor white stained slide, Periodic acid–Schiff stained slide, and Gomori’s methenamine silver stained slide), mycological culture and modern molecular tests (such as PCR-reverse line blot test, real-time PCR test, multiplex PCR test, PCR-ELISA test, and MALDI-TOF test) of clinical specimens. Wood's lamp (blacklight) examination will reveal a bright green to yellow-green fluorescence of hairs infected by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. Mentagrophytes, in kerion infection caused by Trichophyton verrucosum Invaded hairs show an ectothrix infection and fluorescence under Wood's ultra-violet light has been noted in cattle but not in humans.

Differential Diagnosis

Kerion has been called a great mimicker. It can be easily confused with bacterial scalp abscess and various other conditions.

In a recent report, a previously well 9-year-old boy presented to the outpatients’ clinic with a tender, swollen occipital scalp lesion progressing over one month’s duration. He was initially misdiagnosed as having a bacterial infection, and was given a 2 weeks’ course of oral cephalexin. No improvement was noticed after the course.

It was only after the scalp scrapings were examined, that the child was found to be having a local infection with the fungus Trichophyton tonsurans, which had resulted in kerion. Antifungal therapy was then started, which resulted in complete cure.

Treatment

Unlike most other manifestations of Tinea dermatophyte infections, Kerion is not sufficiently treated with topical antifungals and requires systemic therapy. Typical therapy consists of oral antifungals, such as griseofulvin or terbinafine, for a sustained duration of at least 6 to 8 weeks depending on severity. Successful treatment of kerion often requires empiric bacterial antibiotics given the high prevalence of secondary bacterial infection.

References

References

1. (2016-09-08). "Kerion — A Boggy Lump". New England Journal of Medicine.
2. "Management of Tinea Capitis". The International Foundation for Dermatology.
3. L. C. Fuller. (March 8, 2003). "Diagnosis and management of scalp ringworm". BMJ.
4. "Cause of Kerion Ringworm Scalp Condition, Kerions Treatment". Health Blurbs.
5. (June 20, 2022). "Kerion: a great mimicker". Med J Aust.
6. "Kerion". DermNet New Zealand.