TINEA NIGRA: A RARE CASE REPORT IN THE RECÔNCAVO REGION OF BAHIA, BRAZIL

Abstract

Tinea nigra is a rare dermatophytosis caused by the fungus Phaeoannellomyces werneckii, which predominantly occurs in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical regions. Although the diagnosis is primarily clinical, in some cases, microbiological confirmation may be necessary with direct microscopy of the dermal scraping, due to the variety of differential diagnoses with semiological characteristics similar to Tinea nigra. The definitive treatment of this dermatophytosis can be easily achieved with the use of topical antifungals, such as imidazole derivatives. In the present study, a case of Tinea nigra identified in a male patient, 4-year-old, attended at the Primary Health Care of Amargosa, a municipality located in the Recôncavo region of Bahia, was reported. Despite the diversity of existing clinical forms, the lesion described in this report presented clinical, epidemiological, and semiological characteristics consistent with the majority of cases reported in the national and international literature. Throughout the treatment with topical clotrimazole, the lesion completely regressed after two weeks. Therefore, the present study reaffirmed the importance of clinical accuracy in the approach to Tinea nigra, in order to avoid diagnostic errors and thus unnecessary medical procedures that may be harmful to patients.