Abstract
Tinea capitis and tinea corporis are dermatophytoses mostly appearing in childhood. Depending on the type of causative dermatophyte they might present as a superficial mycosis or a deep infection with a serious inflammatory reaction.
Microsporum canis is the most common pathogen in our climate. Tinea capitis is treated by systemic antifungals, mostly terbinafine and intraconazole, tinea corporis requires local or systemic treatment according to the disease extent.
We present three children with tinea capitis and corporis caused by an atypical dermatophyte Arthroderma benhamiae, spreading from an infected guinea pig. The first case manifested as a strong inflammatory lesion on the scalp of a ten-year old girl with systemic symptoms.
Systemic terbinafine therapy failed. The second case describes infection in two siblings successfully treated by combination of systemic terbinafine and local therapy.
The former systemic therapy of tinea capitis by fluconazole and local ciclopirox olamine treatment was not successful in one of the siblings.