THE COURSE OF UNTREATED TI NEA CAPITI S
IN NEGRO CHILDRENt LORRAINE FRIEDMAN, PH.D.,t VINCENT J. DERBES, M.D.t ANI) ELIZABETH P. HODGES, M.T.t
Virtually all of the tinea capitis seen among indigent Negro children of this area is caused either by Trichophyton tonsurans or Iluicrosporum
by T. tonsurans, though not as rare as that caused
by ill. audoulni, is not common (e.g. 7 and 8). To explain the paucity of adult infections, Seale
audoulni with the latter predominating. The and Richardson (9) suggested that the adult great majority of these patients are children 6 scalp may develop an immunity to T. tonsurans to 8 years of age. Until the advent of griseofulvin they were treated by prescription of a variety of
compounds and therapeutic regimens. At the time, it was generally assumed that the various medications effected the cures, for otherwise all of the infected children would have remained infected until adulthood, or in the case of It!. audouini infections, at least until puberty. There is also the possibility, however, that their infections not infrequently cleared spontaneously. While it is generally accepted that tinea capitis caused by M. canis tends to heal spontaneously,
spontaneous cures in lit. audouini infections before the age of puberty are considered uncommon, cxcept when the lesions are inflammatory (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4). In variance with this common view rcgarding the persistence of 111. audouini infections, Kligman (5) has referred to non-pubescent spontaneous termination of 31. audouini tinea capitis of even the non-inflammatory type prior to puberty and implied that such clearance is not uncommon. Also, Lewis, et al. (6), in their textbook on medical mycology mentioned that many patients get well after the infection has been present only several months. They further state that in any case the disease will never last longer than 2 to 5 years, the latter being the outside limit that hairs remain in the growing stage. Tinea capitis caused by T. tonsurans is con-
sidered even more persistent than that of Ji!. audouini origin and these infections are often classified as among those that do not regress at puberty. Nevertheless, adult tinea capitis caused * From the Department of Microbiology and
Division of Dermatology, Tulane University
School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. This investigation was supported by a research
grant, E1225, from the National Institute of
Allergy arid Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service.
in conjunction with puberty, as has been thought to be the case in microsporum infections. For the report herein 39 children with naturally
acquired tinea capitis caused by 111. audouini were given placebos and the course of their infections observed. Also reported are 8 cases of untreated tinea capitis, the etiologic agent of which was T. tonsurans. METHODS
M. audoulni studies. Diagnoses were made by the finding of ectothrix hairs which fluoresced
under Wood's light, and by obtaining positive cultures from plucked hairs. When fluorescence disappeared and the scalp seemed normal, specimens for culture were taken by vigorous scraping
of the scalp with a scalpel, not only of the previously infected sites but by sampling the entire scalp in order not to miss possible sites of new infection.
An attempt was made to observe and culture
all patients monthly until at least 2 negative
cultures had been obtained. Some, however, as shown in Table I, were not observed with such regularity. The attempt was made, also, to follow patients after cure. Initially 45 indigent patients were selected, primarily on the basis of assessed cooperativeness, but 6 were lost to the study after 2 to 6 months. Thirty-nine were followed until cure; or they are still under observation. Placebos were administered throughout the study. Materials most frequently used were: (A) topical—(1) Plastibase ointment,* (2) white
petroleum jelly scented with imitation oil of bergamot,f (3) variously colored (with food color-
ing) lots of glycerinized water (approximately 2 percent, to give substance); (B) oral—U) variously colored capsules of beta-lactose and (2)
milk sugar tablets usually recommended for * E.
R. Squibb and Sons, New York, N. Y. t Oil of bergamot produced by Magnus, Mabee and Reynard, Inc., New York, N. Y. McCormick and Co., Inc., Baltimore, Md. § Approved Pharmaceutical Corp., Syracuse,
N.Y.
Received for publication February 13, 1963. 237
TABLE I Observations on thirty-nine patients with tinea capitis caused by Microsporum audoulni Period of Clinic Observation, Nearest Month
•
Sex &
History, Previous Duration
0Z 2
4 7
5M 7M
3 11 11 M 4 5
6 7 8
8 5 9 3 4
Until regrown
Measurements
Until first negative culture
After first negative culture
1
13 5 1
8 18 19
multiple 5 cm2 patches multiple 5 cm2 patches inapparent, few fluorescent hairs
3 3 6 1 3
3 3 6 1 3
10 3 2 14 2
3cm2patch
2 10 25 4 2 3
2 10 27 5 2 3
10
multiple 5 cm2 patches multiple 5 cm2 patches extensive
Until nonfluorescent
months
years 1
.
Maximum Severity, ApproKimate
9M 5M 9M
3F
4M
1
9
? 12 3 1
<1
4
10 5
(none lost) 3 3 8 6
notfol-
6
5
multiple 5 cm2 patches multiple 5 cm2 patches
2ocm2patch extensive
lowed
9 10 11
12 13 14
4 2
4M 3M
6
7M
7 10 M
4 SF 8
5
5 4 5 3
8 M possible
2 8 25 7 2—lot 3
6 14 12 2 12
20cm2patch 20cm2patch slight scaliness
previous infec15 16 17
2 6 3
2M 6M
4M
18
9 10 M
19
7
20 21 22 23
9 12 M
7M
6
7M
2 2
3M
3F 4F
25
3 4
26
9
M
24
7
27
28 <1
M
tion <1 2 3 2—3
1 6 1
<1 ?
3 6
M
2—5
2—5
1
10 9 l—8t
3—st
3—S
9
l—7
1—7
2*
1—8
1-8
1—8
1—8
0 0 0 0
multiple 3—10 cm2 patches
1—st
7
extensive
25 4—lot 10
<1
25—34
25—34t 4—10
4—10
8
extensive multiple 1—10 cm2 patches 10 cm2 patch
12
8 16
11*
inapparent grossly, multiple
lost) 8
14
15
17
18
18
multiple 3-10 cm2 patches extensive
(none
5 cm2 fluorescence
followed only 19 mo., only 1 colony then
l—7t
not followed
inapparent, 3 mm2 uluores-
2
2
not followed
cence few 3 cm2 patches
(none
9
16 mo. observation; continues
(none
M unknown
multiple patches multiple 3 cm2 patches extensive
2—St
lost) lost)
inapparent, 5 cm2 fluorescence
to have 5—20 col-
onies 29
3
F
<1
8
6
16 mo. observation; continues
20 cm2 patch
to have 5—20 col-
onies
4
30
F
4
5
2
7 mo. observation; continues to
few <5 cm2 patches
have 3—15 colonies * On
one occasion after second negative culture, had <5 colonies, attributable to contamination
from infected sibling. t Not seen for interval >1 month; time of conversion could not be stated more precisely. 238
UNTREATED TINEA CAPITIS IN NEGRO CHILDREN
239
TABLE I—Concluded Age at
Period of Clinic Observation, Nearest Month
First
0 .0
Ct
o
Sex
Maximum Severity, Approximate Measurements
Duration
V
regwwn
71
months
years
3
31
History, Previous
M
2
?
1—lot 22 inn, observation; continues
3 cm2 patch
to have 3—S colo-
nies
6
32
F
none
regrowmg but after 29 months still
20 cm2 patch
has few fluorescent hairs
2
33
F
<1
34
5
F
2—3 years
35
10
M
none
25
4 (none
lost) 36
10
M
7
37
5
M
1
38 39
5 3
F F
<1 <1
11—21
for 2j years has had few fluorescent hairs for 2 years has had scattered fluorescent hairs for 3 years continues to have few fluorescent hairs
for 2 years has had scat-
tered fluorescent hairs after 27 months observation, beginning to show improvement 13 12
12
8—llt
12 12
10 9
10 cm2 patches
extensive
inapparent; few fluorescent hairs extensive extensive
extensive, inflammatory multiple areas, inflammatory
narcotic withdrawal therapy. Oilaturn soaps and Lowilla emo1lient were issued on one occasion to patients 1 and 22; and 20, respectively. Iriadvertently, Fostex** ointment or shampoo (con-
stated the "medication" (placebo) issued through the study had "worked", usually within a month, and thus the child had not been brought back to
during a 4—6 week period to patients 22, 23, 24, 30,
offered a refund of the cost entailed by them had resort to other medication been necessary. They were told this procedure was in keeping with a
taining 2 percent salicylic acid) was issued for use
arid 32. Patients 33, 34, and 35 were given Fostex preparations for use during more than 1 monthly interval.
Patients 38 and 39 developed inflammatory
reactions and were advised to shampoo with Dial soap.
In the case of apparent infections, especially
those who caine voluntarily to the clinic for treat-
ment, various "home'' medications had been tried previously. Patients 35, 11, and 34 had received prescriptions in another clinic for daily application for 2 months of Bynainid ointment (Cutter), Quinolor (Squibb) and 2 percent salicylic acid ointments, and Quinadoine ointment (I )oine Chemicals, Inc.), respectively. In the case of patients 15—20, who were not under
observation at the time of cure, the parents were questioned in an effort to determine if the cure could have been attributable to army other medica
tion used during the lapse of observation. Each
the clinic as scheduled. In an extreme effort to
obtain truthful reports, several parents were guarantee by the manufacturer of the ''drug'' (placebo) issued through the study. Not one ac cepted a refund.
'P. tonsurans. No effort was made to select a group of children; those reported represent case histories removed from the files of other studies in progress. Diagnoses of tinea capitis was iimade
by the finding of endothrix hairs; the identity
of the etiologic agent was determined by culture. The management was essentially the same as that described above except that time placebos issued
were never other than the sugar tablets or capsules, petrolatum, Plastibase, or glycerinized water. None received Fostex. OBSERVATIONS
ill. audonini. Table I shows that of the 39 individuals studied, 1—24 became clinical]y well;
¶ Containing polysaturated vegetable oils, their hairs lost fluorescence, and converted to negative culture. Three of the latter group, fraction, Westwood Pharmaceuticals, Buffalo, patients 22—24, had, however, used Fostex soap N.Y. ** Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., Oak Hill, N. Y. II Containing a dewaxed keratin moisturizing Westwood Pharmaceuticals, Buffalo, N. Y.
for a single 4—6 week interva]; 7 patients (15—
240
THE JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
TABLE II
21) were defaulters who were found to be clear
when they finally returned to the clinic.
Probable duration of infection among twenty-four
Among the remaining 15 patients, numbers 25—
patients with non-i nfiarnmatory tinea capitis
27 were followed only through loss of fluores-
caused by Microsporurn audouini, from estimated onset until culturally negative
cence. Four patients, 28—31, lost fluorescence of
their hair and their scalps became normal but
they continued to have, though erratically,
Duration
cultures showing a few to moderate number of dermatophyte colonies. These four patients came from families having other infected children. Six patients (32—37) have remained fluorescent through 2 to 3 years and are still under observation. Most of these, however, have only a few scattered infected hairs but this residual has been unchanged for 1 to 2 years. An example is patient 34 who had had extensive involvement for 2 or 3 years prior to admission to the study and
months
Number of Patients
1
1 (11)
2
1(3)
3
1(8) (2)
4 5
,
6
1(4) 1(5)
7
3(9,4,4)
for 1 year afterward, but for the past 2 years has had only long fluorescent hairs distributed
8
1(3)
rather widely over the head. The case of patient 35 is similar, except that to our knowledge he never had grossly apparent lesions. Two of the 39 (38 and 39) developed inflammatory reactions prior to cure. Calculating from the first clinic visit, the time
9 10 11 14 15 16
of the above described changes occurred as follows: 10 patients became non-fluorescent
18
2(5,7) 2(9,3) 1(3) 1(4)
31
1(10)
within 3 months, 6 within 6 months, 7 within 9 months, 6 within 12 months, and 4 within 12 to 24 months. (The date of conversion to nonfluorescence was conservatively accepted as the first time the patient was observed in the clinic without fluorescence, regardless of the time that had elapsed since the last observation. As an example, patient 16 was not seen between the third month, when his scalp fluoresced, and the eighth month, when it was not fluorescent; for these totals, his conversion time was estimated as the eighth month.) As stated previously, 6 (patients 32 through 37) of the 39 patients have not lost fluorescence through 2 to 3 years' observation although the number of infected hairs are sparse. In summary, 29 of the 39 patients lost fluorescence within 1 year after their first clinic visit.
(7) (10)
(6)
(4) (7)
1(7) 1
1
(12) L
40
Age of patient (years) at time of negative culture. Italicized figures = females.
t
Conversion
to negative culture occurred
sometime during period so indicated.
were not followed beyond conversion to nonfluorescence.
The 6 patients (32—37) who remained fluores-
cent were also, of course, culturally positive. Five patients (25, 28—31), who lost fluorescence, have remained culturally positive but only weakly
so, as shown ii Table I. In summary, 24 of 39 patients became culturally negative during the course of this study, 21 within 1 year after their first clinic visit and 3 others approximateJy 1
year later. Calculated on the same basis, i.e., from the In Table II can be seen the probable duration first clinic visit, patients had the first of 2 con- of infection, i.e., from the estimated date of secutively negative cultures as follows: 8 within onset until negative culture, of the 24 patients 3 months, 4 within 6 months, S within 9 months,
2 within 12 months, 3 within 18 months, and 2 did not become culturally negative for greater than 2 years. Two of the 39 patients (26 and 27)
who were observed to become culturally negative. This was calculated by combining the months of
previous duration according to history (shown in Table I), with the interval of time, from ad-
241
UNTREATED TINEA CAPITIS IN NEGRO CHILDREN
TABLE III Observations on eight patients with non-inflammatory tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans Age at First Patient
Period of Observation Sex
Observatlon culture
History, Previous Duration
Until scalp grossly normal
months
years
WV
2
3
M
JP
6
7
M
Until first negative culture
After first negative culture
Comments
12
Seborrheic; irregular areas of slight scaliness. Detected by culture in
24
Seborrheic; irregular areas of slight scaliness. Detected by culture in
months
2
epidemiologic survey. 2
4
epidemiologic survey. Subsequently
developed M. audouini infection, CB
6
7
M
1
treated with griseofulvin. 9
8
48
Patchy alopecia; patient brought to clinic with ''ringworm''. When last seen 5 years later, slight thinning of hair still observed at site.
AF
7
7
M
<1
1—5
1—5
MV
7
8
M
<1
2—10
2—10
PN
10
10
M
1?
LD
11
DV
4
12 9
2
19
Patchy alopecia; patient brought to clinic with ''ringworm''. Seborrheic; multiple scaly areas recognized by nmther as ringworm. Entirely normal when observed on tenth month. Seborrheic; irregular areas of slight
scaliness. Detected by culture in
12
12
13
M
F
2
4—9
1—9
15
4—9
1_9*
U
epidemiologic survey. Patchy alopecia; had history of having
had ringworm 3 years previously, treated by a dermatologist and discharged after return to normal and 3 negative cultures. "Sehorrhea". Detected by culture in epidemiologic survey. Scalp normal when observed at the ninth month.
* <5 colonies on two subsequent cultures, possibility of contamination from infected sibling.
mission to the study until culturally negative duration, the calculated probable duration of (also shown in Table I). A review of Table II infection would be less than 1 year. The patients shows that 16 of these 24 patients (3, 5—9, 12— with eborrhea-hke infections cleared in a similar 19, 21, and 22) had negative cultures within 12 period of time. From 1 of these (DV) a few months of estimated onset; 6 patients (1, 2, 4, colonies were isolated on sporadic occasions sub10, 23, and 24) converted to negative cultures sequent to loss of symptoms and before the first within 12 to 18 months; and 2 patients (11 and 20)
did not lose their fungus in less than 31 months. T. tonsurans. Since most of these patients did not have classical ringworm and were not aware
of 2 consecutively negative cultures. This patient was a member of a large family, many of whom had active infections. Further observations on the T. tonsurans patients are detailed in Table
that they were infected, pertinent histories III. usually were not obtainable. Three, however, with areas of alopecia were culturally negative within 9 months after admission to the study and,
since they had histories of 1—2 months prior
COMMENTS
In the strictest sense it is difficult to classify but few of the ill. audouini patients as untreated
242
THE JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
for most had tried "home" medication before coming to the clinic. In exception were the 5 inapparently infected children, detected by us in family studies, or those that had been brought to the ringworm clinic immediately after detection by the mother inasmuch as other members of the family were being "treated" in the clinic. it is reasonably certain, however, that none had received griseofulvin because they were closely
questioned as to whether they had ever taken "pills for ringworm" and because they were for the most part indigent patients who could hardly
nism other than pubescent changes or longevity of
the hairs is operative. The observations concerning T. tonsvrans infections are derived from a sampling too small to permit any conclusions except that spontaneous cures do occur. A further study is in progress to determine the frequency. SUMMARY
Thirty-nine patients with tinea capitis caused by Iliicrosporurn audouini were observed virtually
without medication. Two developed inflamma-
have afforded griseofulvin, especially at its tory reactions and cleared. The others remained early market price. As for those who had had non-inflammatory. Sixteen were culturally nega"home" medication prior to admission to the tive in less than 12 months from estimated onstudy, it seems rather safe to assume it was not set, 6 in 12—is months, and 2 in 30—40 months, curative for even the 3 patients (ii, 34, and 35) all well before puberty. Six patients became who had tried topical remedies prescribed by a clinically well but retained scattered fluorescent dermatologist prior to admission to the study hairs for 2—4 years. The status of the other 7 apparently experienced little or no benefit. patients is described.
Patient 11 remained infected 2 years after 2 months of applying salicylic acid and Quinolor; patient 34, who applied Quinadorne daily for 2
months, was still infected after 3 years; and
patient 35, who had only a few fluorescent hairs
at the time of daily Bynamid application for 2 months, remained infected for nearly 3 years. Similarly, there may be some doubt that cures observed in patients 22, 23, and 24 were spontane-
ous but may have resulted, rather, from the use
Eight patients with T. tonsurans infections, mostly mild or inapparent, also healed without medication.
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