Deep dermatophytosis is a rare fungal infection with deep tissue invasion by dermatophytes.
Clinical features of deep dermatophytosis:
(1) The patient develops a cutaneous dermatophyte infection which may be extensive.
(2) The dermatophyte may also invade hair and nails (onychomycosis).
(3) The dermatophyte invades into subcutaneous tissues and submucosa.
(4) There may be spread to lymph nodes, bones, GI tract and/or the central nervous system (CNS).
(5) Occasionally the infection may be life-threatening.
Conditions associated with deep dermatophytosis:
(1) HIV
(2) immunosuppression
(3) homozygous CARD9 deficiency
The diagnosis requires:
(1) isolation of a dermatophyte from deep tissue
(2) exclusion of other diagnoses
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Dermatology
