Epidermophyton Floccosum as a Possible Etiological Agent of Tinea Capitis: A Case Report

In a case report from April 2021, a 15-year-old girl was diagnosed with tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp, caused by Epidermophyton floccosum—a dermatophyte not commonly associated with this condition. The patient presented with itchy, scaly alopecia and was found to have lymphadenopathies and positive hair-pull test results. Trichoscopy revealed comma hairs, broken hairs, and black dots, while fungal culture confirmed the presence of E. floccosum. She was successfully treated with griseofulvin, cetirizine, and ketoconazole shampoo. This case highlights the unusual occurrence of E. floccosum causing tinea capitis, demonstrating its ability to infect and perforate hair shafts.