Case report. Kerion Celsi effectively treated with terbinafine. Characteristics of kerion Celsi in the elderly in Japan

A 75-year-old non-working male living in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, h ad erythematous plaques with scales associated with follicular pustules in the head area extending from the occipital to right temporal regions about 1 month prior to his initial visit, when hair loss increased. The diagnosis was kerion Celsi. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated from scales and tissues taken from lesions in the head. Histopathological examinations showed irre gular epidermal thickening with dense cell infiltration from the dermis to subcutaneous adipose tissues. Granulomatous reactions involving neutrophils , histiocytes and giant cells were seen mainly in the hair follicles. Perio dic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Grocott-positive microbial elements were detected in the horny layer, and inside and outside the hair follicles. Pustules di sappeared 1 week after starting the oral treatment with terbinafine (125 mg day(-1)). A cure was achieved 2 weeks after starting the treatment, with o nly slight scales remaining. No recurrence has been observed to date. Terbi nafine was thought to be very effective and safe for kerion Celsi. We revie wed 27 cases of kerion Celsi reported in patients, aged at least 70 years, in Japan and found that the major characteristics of this disease in Japan include the following: (1) female cases outnumber male cases; (2) the causa tive organism was T. rubrum in 14 of 27 patients (51.9%); and (3) topical a pplication of steroids often induces this disease in patients with superfic ial tinea capitis.