Microsphere B35.0

Highly contagious, non-abscessing, almost reactionless, deep folliculitis caused by Microsporum species (especially M. canis/zoophilic, M. audouinii/antrophilic).

Among the proven cases of dermatomycoses, the proportion of infections caused by Microsporum species is around 4% (Heidrich D et al. 2015)

The capillitium (tinea capitis) of children or adolescents is preferentially affected.

Infestation of the entire integument(tinea corporis) possible (but rare)

In tinea capitis, around 50% of cases are caused by Microsporum species .

M. canis (zoophilic, vectors are mainly cats; Nardoni S et al. 2015), M . audouinii (anthropophilic); M . gypseum (geophilic). Less common are M. ferrugineum, Nannizzia gypsea (geophilic).

The zoophilic M. canis often spreads endemically in kindergartens and schools. Direct physical contact or transmission through infected objects.

Almost exclusively children and adolescents are affected (close contact with infected "cuddly toys").

Capillitium: Single or multiple, slightly inflamed, small (variable - coin-sized), pityriasiform scaling, slowly growing, confluent to polycyclic limited areas with hairs broken off just above the hair base (comparison with a badly mown meadow) - see below Grey patch tinea.

Face, neck, trunk and extremities: Anular, light red to rich red, bordered, collerette-like scaling plaques. There is usually marked itching.

Diagnosis: Pathogen detection in the native preparation and in the culture, green fluorescence in Wood light.

Microscopic examination reveals innumerable tiny spores (hence the name microsporia) surrounding the hair shaft.

Broad-spectrum antifungals such as bifonazole (e.g. Mycospor cream) or ciclopirox (e.g. Ciclopoli®).

Source of infection: Find infected animal (cat, dog) and have it treated by veterinarian.

Fluconazole (1mg/kgkgkgkg p.o.): To prevent recurrences, the treatment period should extend beyond the healing period and may take several months in severe cases.

Alternative: Itraconazole (e.g. Sempera Kps.) 100 mg/day has shown good results in individual case reports, but the active substance is not yet approved for children due to a lack of experience.

Alternative: Ketoconazole

Alternative: griseofulvin (e.g. Likuden), adults 500-1000 mg/day, children 6-7 mg/kg bw/day.

An herbal mixture of different oils: Litsea cubeba (1%), Illicium verum (0.5%), Foeniculum vulgare (0.5%), and Pelargonium graveolens (0.5%) showed antifungal activity against M. canis arthrospores (Nardoni S et al. 2015).

The term "microsporum" has become established colloquially as a designation for a specific pathogen (analogous to "trichophytosis"). However, the respective clinical picture caused by microsporum species, e.g. in the case of infestation of the capillitium, is referred to as tinea, e.g. tinea capitis.

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