Trichophyton rubrum tinea capitis in an 85-year-old woman.
BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis is a worldwide problem and occurs most commonly in young children. Certain common fungal types are most often recognized as the responsible infecting organism. OBJECTIVE: This article presents the case of an elderly woman with tinea capitis caused by a fungal organism that rarely infects hair. A review of the world literature provides evidence of only a few other similar cases. CONCLUSIONS: Trichophyton rubrum causing tinea capitis in adults is a rare but now increasingly recognized entity. This possibility should be kept in mind when caring for adults with nonhealing scalp conditions.