Case Report: Kerion Celsi Effectively Treated with Terbinafine. Characteristics of Kerion Celsi in the Elderly in Japan

In 1999, a 75-year-old male in Japan was diagnosed with kerion Celsi, a fungal infection of the scalp, after presenting with erythematous plaques, scales, follicular pustules, and increased hair loss. Trichophyton rubrum was identified as the causative organism. Histopathological examination revealed epidermal thickening and granulomatous reactions in the hair follicles. The patient was successfully treated with oral terbinafine at a dosage of 125 mg per day, showing significant improvement within one week and achieving a cure by two weeks, with no recurrence observed. A review of 27 cases of kerion Celsi in elderly patients in Japan highlighted that the condition is more common in females, T. rubrum is the primary cause in 51.9% of cases, and topical steroid use on superficial tinea capitis can often trigger the disease. Terbinafine was deemed effective and safe for treating kerion Celsi.