TLDR Fungal infections should be considered in scalp swelling to avoid misdiagnosis.
A 9-year-old Nepalese boy presented with multiple boggy scalp lesions, initially suspected to be bacterial, but later identified as tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans. The diagnosis was confirmed through potassium hydroxide preparation, histopathology, and MALDI-TOF. The boy was treated with systemic antifungal therapy for 6 weeks, leading to complete recovery. At a 2-year follow-up, focal alopecia was observed, but there was no recurrence of the infection. This case highlighted the importance of considering fungal infections in similar presentations to avoid misdiagnosis.
3 citations
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September 2020 in “Case reports in dermatological medicine” Misdiagnosing kerion as a bacterial infection can lead to unnecessary surgery and permanent hair loss.
24 citations
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August 2007 in “Journal of pediatric surgery” Surgery is not the right treatment for a fungal scalp infection; proper medical treatment is needed.
2 citations
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23 citations
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5 citations
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6 citations
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