CHILDHOOD WHITE SUPERFICIAL ONYCHOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY TRICHOPHYTON-RUBRUM - REPORT OF 7 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background: Although white superficial onychomycosis (WSO) is well rec ognized in adults and considered to be mainly caused by Trichophyton m entagrophytes, childhood WSO is rare. WSO caused by Trichophyton rubru m in prepubertal children has never been reported. Objective: Our purp ose was to describe the existence of WSO in children and to emphasize that T. rubrum may be its main cause. Methods: Seven children with WSO seen between 1988 and 1993 were examined. Only patients who had a pos itive potassium hydroxide preparation and a positive fungal culture we re included. Results: Seven healthy prepubertal children, 2 to 9 years of age, were identified with WSO. All cases were proved to be caused by T. rubrum. Six patients had associated tinea pedis, and five had a family history of tinea pedis. Topical antifungal therapy was partiall y effective in some cases. Conclusion: This report documents the exist ence of WSO in prepubertal children. All cultures grew T. rubrum. Alth ough onychomycosis is not as common in prepubertal children as in adul ts, it may be underrecognized.