Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Jul 2002)

Clinical and mycological study of scalp white piedra in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

  • Zélia Braz Vieira da Silva Pontes,
  • Adriano Lira Ramos,
  • Edeltrudes de Oliveira Lima,
  • Maria de Fátima de Lacerda Guerra,
  • Neuza Maria Cavalcante Oliveira,
  • Jozemar Pereira dos Santos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762002000500028
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 97, no. 5
pp. 747 – 750

Abstract

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White piedra is a superficial mycoses characterized by nodules on the hair shaft, caused by the basidiomycetous yeasts. In the present study, clinical and mycological findings of scalp white piedra caused by Trichosporon spp. are related. Twenty three cases of scalp white piedra were observed with a high incidence in women (87%) and preschool children from 2 to 6 (74%) years old. These groups presented a relationship of dependence with this infection. Despite the low socio-economic status, poor standards of hygiene, (48% of the patients) as well as the fact that 30.4% of the children shared the same nursery, these factors were not significant for the transmission of the mycosis. These were the first reports of scalp white piedra in João Pessoa city, Paraíba, Brazil.

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