TINEA-VERSICOLOR AND VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS

Background. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in several areas in the Sudan. The disease is associated with depressed cellular immunity . Tinea versicolor is a normal commensal of the skin which can become pathogenic particularly in patients with depressed cell-mediated immun ity. Patients with VL have a high prevalence of tinea versicolor. Meth ods. One hundred and thirty patients with parasitologic confirmation o f VL were screened for tinea versicolor infection. In the suspected ca ses the diagnosis was made by demonstrating the fungal hyphae and spor es in skin scrapings. All patients were treated with sodium stibogluco nate. Results. Of the 130 patients with VL, 10.8%. were found to have severe tinea versicolor. The fungal infection developed or became wors e with the start Of VL. After successful treatment Of VL, the tinea le sions disappeared completely or decreased in severity. Conclusions. De pressed cell-mediated immunity that is a feature Of VL is the probable underlying cause for fungal infection. Tinea infection during the cou rse Of VL is to be distinguished from lesions of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.