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Tinea Imbricata

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Current Topics in Medical Mycology

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Medical Mycology ((CT MYCOLOGY,volume 2))

Abstract

Tinea imbricata is the name given to infections caused by the dermatophytic fungus Trichophyton concentricum. The organism is an anthropophilic species and has no known natural reservoir other than humans. For a long time, tinea imbricata has captured the imagination of anthropologists, dermatologists, and medical mycologists because of its unusual geographic distribution and clinical appearances. The infection is found in endemic foci in the Far East, West Pacific, and parts of Central and South America. Infected individuals are frequently living in isolated and primitive conditions. The clinical features of tinea imbricata are dramatic. Many of those affected have more than half of their body surface area covered by loose or concentric rings of scales. From the large loose scales seen particularly on extensor surfaces of the arms the name imbricata (Latin, "tiled") is derived. The characteristic concentric rings of confluent scaling that cover the trunk and limbs with a bizarre pattern are used to describe the causative organism T. concentricum.

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Authors
  1. Roderick J. Hay
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA

    Michael R. McGinnis Ph.D.

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Hay, R.J. (1988). Tinea Imbricata. In: McGinnis, M.R. (eds) Current Topics in Medical Mycology. Current Topics in Medical Mycology, vol 2. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3730-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3730-3_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8323-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3730-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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