Tinea Versicolor and Visceral Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Background. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in several areas in the Sudan. The disease is associated with depressed cellular immunity. Tinea versicolor is a normal commensal of the skin which can become pathogenic particularly in patients with depressed cell-mediated immunity. Patients with VL have a high prevalence of tinea versicolor.

Methods. One hundred and thirty patients with parasitologic confirmation of VL were screened for tinea versicolor infection. In the suspected cases the diagnosis was made by demonstrating the fungal hyphae and spores in skin scrapings. All patients were treated with sodium stibogluconate.

Results. Of the 130 patients with VL, 10.8% were found to have severe tinea versicolor. The fungal infection developed or became worse with the start of VL. After successful treatment of VL, the tinea lesions disappeared completely or decreased in severity.

Conclusions. Depressed cell-mediated immunity that is a feature of VL is the probable underlying cause for fungal infection. Tinea infection during the course of VL is to be distinguished from lesions of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis.