Related Experiment Videos
Tinea versicolor and visceral leishmaniasis
1Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
International Journal of Dermatology
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Sudan is linked to a weakened immune system, increasing the risk of severe fungal skin infections like tinea versicolor. Successful VL treatment often resolves these opportunistic fungal conditions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Sudan and characterized by impaired cellular immunity.
- Tinea versicolor, a common skin fungus, can become pathogenic in immunocompromised individuals.
- VL patients exhibit a high incidence of tinea versicolor infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and clinical course of tinea versicolor in patients diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis.
- To understand the relationship between VL-associated immunosuppression and opportunistic fungal infections.
Main Methods:
- Parasitological confirmation of VL in 130 patients.
- Screening for tinea versicolor infection in all VL patients.
- Diagnosis of suspected tinea versicolor via microscopic examination of skin scrapings.
- Treatment of VL patients with sodium stibogluconate.
Main Results:
- 10.8% of VL patients presented with severe tinea versicolor.
- Fungal infections often emerged or worsened concurrently with the onset of VL.
- Complete or partial resolution of tinea lesions was observed following successful VL treatment.
Conclusions:
- Impaired cell-mediated immunity in VL is the likely cause of opportunistic fungal infections.
- Tinea infections in VL patients should be differentiated from post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.