Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus
Published on: April 19, 2017
Tinea pseudoimbricata: a narrative literature review and five new cases
Anca Chiriac1,2,3, Pietro Nenoff4, Uwe Wollina5
1Nicolina Medical Center, Iasi, Romania.
Background:
Tinea pseudoimbricata is a variant of tinea incognito, with multiple erythematous concentric rings (ring in a ring) and pruritus. Misuse of topical corticosteroids is a major exogenous factor.
Objective:
We provide an overview of published cases and report the first case series from Romania.
Patients And Methods:
A narrative review of the literature was conducted in PubMed and amended by ResearchGate. A series of pediatric cases from Romania with clinical suspicion of tinea pseudoimbricata was investigated by clinical examination, KOH preparations of skin scrapings, and mycological culture when possible.
Results:
We collected 137 cases of tinea pseudoimbricata from the literature and added a series of 5 pediatric patients from Romania. Oral treatment with fluconazole was effective in all of them. Worldwide, most reports came from India (86%), 3.5% were from other Asian countries, 3.5% were from the Americas, and 7% were from Europe. M. canis and T. mentagrophytes were identified in 2 patients from Romania. T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and T. tonsurans are the dominant species worldwide, but molecular diagnostics were available for only a minor part of cases.
Conclusion:
Tinea pseudoimbricata is most common in India. This is the first case series on tinea pseudoimbricata from Romania. Tinea pseudoimbricata is an emerging disease in Europe. Identification of fungi has rarely been done by molecular mycology. This may have caused an overestimation of T. mentagrophytes and an underestimation of T. indotineae.
Insights
Tinea pseudoimbricata, a skin infection with concentric rings, is increasingly seen in Europe. This study reports the first Romanian pediatric cases, effectively treated with fluconazole.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tinea pseudoimbricata presents as a variant of tinea incognito, characterized by erythematous concentric rings and pruritus.
- The misuse of topical corticosteroids is a significant contributing factor to this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of previously published cases of tinea pseudoimbricata.
- To report the first series of pediatric cases from Romania.
Main Methods:
- A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed and ResearchGate.
- Pediatric cases from Romania with suspected tinea pseudoimbricata underwent clinical examination, KOH preparation, and mycological culture.
Main Results:
- 137 cases were collected from the literature, supplemented by 5 pediatric cases from Romania.
- Oral fluconazole proved effective in all Romanian pediatric patients.
- While T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and T. tonsurans are dominant species globally, molecular diagnostics were limited, potentially affecting species identification.
Conclusions:
- Tinea pseudoimbricata is most prevalent in India and is considered an emerging disease in Europe.
- This study marks the first case series of tinea pseudoimbricata from Romania.
- Limited use of molecular mycology may lead to misidentification of fungal species, such as overestimating T. mentagrophytes and underestimating T. indotineae.
