Trichophytosis by double infection ofTrichophyton schoenleiniiandTrichophyton violaceum

Chronic generalized trichophytosis in a 44-year-old female is reported. The disease began when she was 15 and gradually spread from the scalp. Surviving hairs on the scalp and eye-brows showed an endothrix invasion. Enlargement and fistulization of the cervical and axillary lymph nodes were also present. Trichophyton schoenleinii was cultured from the scalp while Trichophyton violaceum was isolated from the body skin, the nails and lymph nodes. Griseofulvin produced significant improvement with occasional relapses. The possible role of the basic cell-mediated immune defect, as revealed by the decreased number of the T and B cells, is discussed.