Tinea genitalis profunda, a diagnostic challenge: a case report and literature review

Tinea genitalis is a relatively new entity of dermatophyte infection, observed mainly in young adults. By definition, it is localized on the mons pubis and on the labia in women, and on the penile shaft in men. It has been described as a "lifestyle disease" and potentially sexually transmitted disease. We report the case of a 35-year-old patient, an immigrant woman, with tinea genitalis profunda, presenting with painful deep infiltrative papules and plaques, purulent inflammation, and signs of secondary impetiginization. Concomitantly, tinea corporis, tinea faciei, tinea colli, and tinea capitis were diagnosed. Her skin lesions developed over an approximately 2-month period. The zoophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes was cultivated from the pubogenital lesions, as well as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The patient was treated systemically with terbinafine, antibiotics, and short-term corticosteroid, and topically with antimycotic and antibiotic cream. During almost 3 weeks of hospitalization, satisfactory improvement was achieved. A literature review with new clinical and epidemiological observations is presented for this rare type of tinea, which poses a diagnostic and treatment challenge.