Tinea Versicolor in a Three-Month Infant: A Case Report

Tinea versicolor (TV) – a fungal infection, mainly affects adolescents and adults with skin hypo- or hyperpigmentation. This disease is unusual in infants. 

This case presents a three-month-old boy with multiple light-colored lesions on the trunk without itching, lasting for two weeks or more. 

The boy was born through a normal vaginal delivery at 39 weeks gestation and weighed 3.6 kg. The neonate was diagnosed with physiological jaundice and received three-day care in the hospital nursery. He was not administered steroids or antibiotics at this stage, nor did he require a central venous catheter or total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

Clinical examination revealed multiple hypopigmented macules covered with fine scales - on the back, chest, and abdomen. The wood lamp test showed bright-yellow fluorescent lesions; potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination confirmed the TV diagnosis.

The child was prescribed a 1% clotrimazole solution – to be applied twice daily. A two-month follow-up showed negative KOH preparation and lesion improvement.

This case highlights that although rare in infants, TV should be considered in this age group, especially in babies presenting with unusual skin symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for positive outcomes.

Source: Almalki MK, Alruwaili ZM, Alhammad NS, et al. Cureus. 2023 Jun 21;15(6).