Dermatology Made Simple : Fungal infections of the Trunk

Fungal infections of the Trunk

These are usually caused by one of the below organisms:

Tinea Corporis

Candidia

Malassezia furfur

Tinea Corporis:

This is causes by a fungus Dermatophyte.

These usually live on the normal skin and cause rash when the environment is suitable for them or person is immunocompromised.

It can spread from person to person as direct contact.

Predisposing factors:

Individuals with immunosuppression

Individuals living in crowded and humid areas.

Lesions:

These are red colored erythematous with well defined scaly edge.

They affect the trunk,thighs and abdomen.

Management:

This is usually by Terbinafine cream 1 %.

Other options include :

Miconazole

Ketoconazole

Clotrimazole

These medications will have to be used for 2 – 4 weeks.

Systemic Therapy is in the form of Itraconazole 100 mg/day for 2 weeks

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis for Tinea corporis includes: Erythrasma which is casued by Corynebacterium minutissimum and is treated by Tetracyclines.

Pityriasis Versicolor:

This is caused by Malasezia furfur

It affects upper back,arms and chest.

It causes well defined macules that vary in color from pale to dark brown.

They are covered with scales.

These lesions become more apparent when exposure to sun light takes place.

Treatment

Topical Selenium Sulphide and topical ketoconazole 2 % cream applied once daily for 2 weeks  that cures 

between 70 – 80 % of cases.

Differential Diagnosis for Pityriasis Versicolor includes:

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Pityrisasis Rosea and

Vitiligo