CORRESPONDENCE
MAURICIO GOIHMAN-YAHR, M.D., PH.D., EDITOR The Correspondence Section serves as a forum for opinion exchange about subiects of general interest such as dermatologic training, relations between dermatologists and pharmaceutical houses, governmental control of dermatology and medical practice in general, peculiarities of dermatology related to geographic, climatic, or racial factors, the flow of information and publications, as well as other concerns the readership might have. Contributions are welcome atid should conform to the usual format for eorrespondence. Manuscripts will undergo standard editorial procedures. Submit all correspondence to Mauricio Goihman-Yahr, M.D., Ph.D., Editor, Jet International M-154, P.O. Box020010, Miami, FL 33102.
Gases of dermatophytosis are rare among newborns.' The earliest case was described by Lynch in 1876, in a cbild 6 hours old.- In Brazil, references on the subject are rare.'"'' Microsporum canis is one of the most common dermatophytes in Brazil and is the principal agent of tinea capitis in the southern and southeastern regions of tbe country. It is present with several clinical forms of tinea capitis and has been isolated even in bealtby carriers.' In this letter, we present the first Brazilian case of tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis in a newborn child. It seemed to have appeared following a 16-day incubation period.
Editorial Note The following note concerns a letter published in the February issue of the International lournal of Dermatology 1992; 31:144. Conditions outlined hy Dr. Mntalik are distressing and surely not confined to hidia. It should be stressed, however, that the creation of iust laws, the enforcement of such laws, and medical ethics are under the aegis, respectively, of Congress or its equivalent, the police and the iudiciary system, and the medical associations that a given country may have. Pharmaceutical companies are not to he primarily hiamed for failures of the institutions mentioned above.
Humberto M. Gondim-Gonc^alves, M.D. Ana Glaudia P. Mapurunga, M.D. Goaraci Melo-Monteiro, M.D. Aldy A.B. Lima, Ph.D. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mauricio Goihman-Yahr, M.D., Ph.D., Section Editor
Tinea Capitis Caused by Microsporum canis in a Newborn
References 1. Kamalan A, Thambiah AS. Tinea faciei caused by Microsporum gypseum in a two day old infant. Mykosen 1981; 24:40-42. 2. Lynch JR. Gase of ringworm in infant within six hours of birtb. Med Pres Girc 1876; 21:235. 3. Gastro G. Herpes circinado em recem-nascido. O Hospital (Rio de Janeiro) 1945; 28:465-470. 4. Nieto IG, Gastro RM. Dermatofitose em recem-nato. An Bras Dermatol 1983; 58:171-172. 5. Furtado MSS, Ibara LT, Maroja MF, et al. Dermatofitoses na cidade de Manaus-AM. An Bras Dermatol 1987; 62:195-196. 6. Martins JFG, Frauhfurt E. Tinha da face em recemnascido por Microsporum canis. Registro de um caso. An Bras Dermatol 1990; 65:25-26. 7. Pononelli L, Garcovich A, Morage G. Dermatopbyte carriers among school children. Mykosen 1982; 25: 254-257.
To the Editor: A 90-day-old white boy arrived at tbe Dermatology Glinic with lesions on the scalp. They had started in tbe occipital region 16 days after birth, with lesions spreading concentrically reaching the parietal and frontal regions. Skin examination revealed round scaling patches of variable sizes tending to confluence; they were lightly erythematous, with whitish hairy stump forming saliences on tbe surface of the scalp, localized in the occipital, parietal, and frontal regions. On examination with Wood's light, the infected hair showed light green fluorescence. We obtained fragments of the hairy stump witb a depiling clip, and squatnous material by scratching the lesions with a scalpel blade number 15, for mycologic examination. The direct examination with potassium hydroxide (10%) showed hyphae with septa and ectothrix parasitism of the hair. The fungus was isolated on agar and macro- and microscopically identified as Microsporum canis. The patient was treated with oral griseofulvin, 125 mg/ day, for 6 weeks. His family and those in direct contact witb him were also examined. Some rounded, erythematous, scaling lesions caused by dermatophytes were found on tbe trunk of the mother. Direct examination and culture confirmed the presence of Microspormn canis. (Tbere was also a cat in the home, which died 5 months before of unknown causes.)
Long-Term Administration of Isotretinoin To the Editor:
A 53-year-old, moderately retarded, white man was begun on isotretinoin, 20 mg daily, 20 months prior by a dermatology consultant no longer associated with the facility. The patient, whose weight would vary from 198 lbs to 246 lbs (90-112 367
MAURICIO GOIHMAN-YAHR, M.D., PH.D., EDITOR The Correspondence Section serves as a forum for opinion exchange about subiects of general interest such as dermatologic training, relations between dermatologists and pharmaceutical houses, governmental control of dermatology and medical practice in general, peculiarities of dermatology related to geographic, climatic, or racial factors, the flow of information and publications, as well as other concerns the readership might have. Contributions are welcome atid should conform to the usual format for eorrespondence. Manuscripts will undergo standard editorial procedures. Submit all correspondence to Mauricio Goihman-Yahr, M.D., Ph.D., Editor, Jet International M-154, P.O. Box020010, Miami, FL 33102.
Gases of dermatophytosis are rare among newborns.' The earliest case was described by Lynch in 1876, in a cbild 6 hours old.- In Brazil, references on the subject are rare.'"'' Microsporum canis is one of the most common dermatophytes in Brazil and is the principal agent of tinea capitis in the southern and southeastern regions of tbe country. It is present with several clinical forms of tinea capitis and has been isolated even in bealtby carriers.' In this letter, we present the first Brazilian case of tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis in a newborn child. It seemed to have appeared following a 16-day incubation period.
Editorial Note The following note concerns a letter published in the February issue of the International lournal of Dermatology 1992; 31:144. Conditions outlined hy Dr. Mntalik are distressing and surely not confined to hidia. It should be stressed, however, that the creation of iust laws, the enforcement of such laws, and medical ethics are under the aegis, respectively, of Congress or its equivalent, the police and the iudiciary system, and the medical associations that a given country may have. Pharmaceutical companies are not to he primarily hiamed for failures of the institutions mentioned above.
Humberto M. Gondim-Gonc^alves, M.D. Ana Glaudia P. Mapurunga, M.D. Goaraci Melo-Monteiro, M.D. Aldy A.B. Lima, Ph.D. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mauricio Goihman-Yahr, M.D., Ph.D., Section Editor
Tinea Capitis Caused by Microsporum canis in a Newborn
References 1. Kamalan A, Thambiah AS. Tinea faciei caused by Microsporum gypseum in a two day old infant. Mykosen 1981; 24:40-42. 2. Lynch JR. Gase of ringworm in infant within six hours of birtb. Med Pres Girc 1876; 21:235. 3. Gastro G. Herpes circinado em recem-nascido. O Hospital (Rio de Janeiro) 1945; 28:465-470. 4. Nieto IG, Gastro RM. Dermatofitose em recem-nato. An Bras Dermatol 1983; 58:171-172. 5. Furtado MSS, Ibara LT, Maroja MF, et al. Dermatofitoses na cidade de Manaus-AM. An Bras Dermatol 1987; 62:195-196. 6. Martins JFG, Frauhfurt E. Tinha da face em recemnascido por Microsporum canis. Registro de um caso. An Bras Dermatol 1990; 65:25-26. 7. Pononelli L, Garcovich A, Morage G. Dermatopbyte carriers among school children. Mykosen 1982; 25: 254-257.
To the Editor: A 90-day-old white boy arrived at tbe Dermatology Glinic with lesions on the scalp. They had started in tbe occipital region 16 days after birth, with lesions spreading concentrically reaching the parietal and frontal regions. Skin examination revealed round scaling patches of variable sizes tending to confluence; they were lightly erythematous, with whitish hairy stump forming saliences on tbe surface of the scalp, localized in the occipital, parietal, and frontal regions. On examination with Wood's light, the infected hair showed light green fluorescence. We obtained fragments of the hairy stump witb a depiling clip, and squatnous material by scratching the lesions with a scalpel blade number 15, for mycologic examination. The direct examination with potassium hydroxide (10%) showed hyphae with septa and ectothrix parasitism of the hair. The fungus was isolated on agar and macro- and microscopically identified as Microsporum canis. The patient was treated with oral griseofulvin, 125 mg/ day, for 6 weeks. His family and those in direct contact witb him were also examined. Some rounded, erythematous, scaling lesions caused by dermatophytes were found on tbe trunk of the mother. Direct examination and culture confirmed the presence of Microspormn canis. (Tbere was also a cat in the home, which died 5 months before of unknown causes.)
Long-Term Administration of Isotretinoin To the Editor:
A 53-year-old, moderately retarded, white man was begun on isotretinoin, 20 mg daily, 20 months prior by a dermatology consultant no longer associated with the facility. The patient, whose weight would vary from 198 lbs to 246 lbs (90-112 367
