TINEA-CAPITIS IN ADULTS - MISDIAGNOSIS OR REAPPEARANCE

Background: According to the literature tinea capitis in adults is sup posed to be rare; we have recently observed a significant increase in cases. Methods: Epidemiological, clinical and mycological features wer e studied in all adult tinea capitis diagnosed over 1 year in our depa rtment, Results: Eight cases were observed: 75% of them were women, 50 % never traveled and 62.5% had an underlying immunosuppressive disease . Scalp scaling and alopecia were the most frequent clinical features, A zoophilic dermatophyte was recovered in 50% of cases, Conclusion: T hese cases represent 11% of all tinea capitis observed in the same per iod of time (higher than the 3-5% observed in the literature). Secreti on of sebum and colonization by Pityrosporon orbiculare are supported to protect the scalp against dermatophytic invasion after puberty, but an immune defect may also facilitate hair invasion. The erroneous not ion of the disease being uncommon and the frequent atypical clinical p resentation require a high degree of clinical suspicion.