A Case of Facial Alternaria alternata Infection in an Immunocompetent Male with Albinism.
Yimin He, Ying Gao, Jingsi Zeng et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 26-year-old immunocompetent man with albinism who worked in breeding presented with a two-month history of itchy facial rashes. Histopathology, periodic acid–Schiff staining, mycological testing and gene sequencing of the lesion culture confirmed facial infection with Alternaria alternata. He received oral itraconazole and topical antifungal cream, with complete remission and no recurrence during eight years of follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The infection occurred on the face of an immunocompetent patient with albinism, in the context of breeding work; the authors suggest occupational exposure may increase susceptibility to cutaneous alternariosis.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Consider cutaneous alternariosis in refractory inflammatory facial lesions, including in immunocompetent patients; this case used histopathology, mycological tests and gene sequencing to confirm the diagnosis.