Celsus’ Kerion

A 11-year-old male came to our clinic with an alopecic area on the back of the skull. The patient informed us that in this alopecic area plaques were formed with painful pustules associated with inflammation and edema, which emerged spontaneously 1 month before. He has had frequent contacts with dogs and had taken various medications without effect. Physical examination showed an alopecic area with fractured hairs with squamous plaques, painful pustules that when pressed with the finger, release abundant suppuration with edema and inflammation, located on the back of the skull that affected the scalp. And, at cervical level, painful lymphadenopathies was found. The mycological analysis showed Microsporum canis. The bacteriological study was negative. The clinical diagnosis was Celsus’ kerion or suppurative tinea. The patient was treated with Griseofulvin with good response (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Alopecic patches with multiple crusts and pustules on the scalp.