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Alternaria ‐bedingte Onychomykosen in der Toskana 1985–99
Author(s) -
Romano C.,
Paccagnini E.,
Difonzo E. M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0507.2001.00622.x
Subject(s) - alternaria , itraconazole , alternaria alternata , dermatology , hyperkeratosis , medicine , direct examination , antifungal , veterinary medicine , biology , pathology , horticulture , political science , law
Summary. Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Alternaria spp. is reported with increasing frequency, especially in patients with immune deficiency. Onychomycosis caused by this mould is still rarely observed. Here we report nine cases observed in Tuscany in the period 1985–99; the agent was Alternaria alternata in eight cases and Alternaria chlamidospora in one. Diagnosis was made on the basis of repeated direct microscopic mycological examination and culture, confirmed by scanning electron microscope observation of fragments of colonies. In most cases, the clinical manifestations were dystropy and distal subungual hyperkeratosis of one or two nails of the feet or hands. Seven cases were treated with oral itraconazole, successfully in six cases, as clinical and mycological recovery was confirmed at follow‐up 1 year later.