dermatologic disorders
Overview of Dermatophytoses
Diagnosis of Dermatophytoses
Clinical appearance Potassium hydroxide wet mount Diagnosis of dermatophytoses is based on clinical appearance and site of infection and can be confirmed by skin scrapings and demonstration of hyphae on potassium hydroxide (KOH) wet mount or by culture of plucked hairs. For KOH wet mount, the affected area of the nail plate, not subungual debris, should be pared and tested. For onychomycosis, the most sensitive test is a periodic acid-Schiff stain of nail clippings. Identification of specific organisms by culture is unnecessary except for scalp infection (where an animal source may be identified and treated) and nail infection (which may be caused by a nondermatophyte). Culture may also be useful when overlying inflammation and bacterial infection are severe and/or accompanied by alopecia. Differential diagnosisof dermatophytoses includes Folliculitis decalvans (a rare, scarring alopecia in which a patch of alopecia with pustules enlarges) Bacterial pyodermas Entities that cause Classification , such as Dissecting cellulitis 