Common features of periocular tinea

January 01, 0001

Common features of periocular tinea

This case series by US authors was presents the common features of periocular tinea to aid physicians in future diagnosis and therapy of this condition, because superficial fungal infections on the face are often misdiagnosed owing to the diverse morphologies that they manifest. This is especially true of dermatophytoses involving the periocular region. They conducted a retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of periocular tinea who were seen between January 2003 and September 2009 in a pediatric dermatology clinic.

They found: "Ten cases of periocular tinea were identified (6 male patients and 4 female patients). Common features included prolonged misdiagnosis (all 10 cases), a normal ophthalmologic examination (all 10 cases), and inappropriate corticosteroid application (7 cases). Loss of the eyelashes occurred in all 10 patients. No cases had evidence of other tinea infections on examination. Only 2 cases had the central clearing classically associated with tinea corporis. Seven patients had a potassium hydroxide preparation and/or culture positive for fungal elements. Lesions improved with topical and oral antifungal treatment in all cases, and patients were able to regrow their eyelashes."

The authors concluded: "Periocular tinea should be considered in the differential diagnosis for periocular inflammation, especially in those patients refractory to therapy for more common conditions. Loss of the eyelashes is characteristic of these fungal infections, similar to the hair loss that occurs in kerions associated with tinea capitis."

A rare condition, but worth being aware of.


For the full abstract, click here.

Arch Ophthalmol 129(3):306-309, March 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
Common Features of Periocular Tinea. S. Alison Finger Basak, David R. Berk, Gregg T. Lueder, Susan J. Bayliss. Correspondence to Dr. Berk: [email protected]

Category: S. Skin, E. Eye. Keywords: periocular, tinea, case series, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 29 March 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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