Clinical, epidemiological and mycological characteristics of pediatric kerion celsi in Eastern Turkey: A retrospective study of 65 cases.

Kerion celsi remains a significant public health concern in eastern Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, demographic, and mycological characteristics of patients diagnosed with kerion celsi, a condition that continues to be relatively common in this region. A total of 65 pediatric patients who were hospitalized in our dermatology clinic between December 2015 and December 2016 were included in the study. During epilation, which is routinely performed as part of the treatment, hair and skin samples were collected to identify the causative agents. All samples underwent standard microbiological procedures for fungal identification. Of the patients, 51 (78.5%) were male and 14 (21.5%) were female. The ages ranged from 1 to 13 years, with a mean age of 6.45 years. Regarding seasonal distribution, 6 patients (9.2%) were admitted in summer, 10 (15.4%) in autumn, 27 (41.5%) in winter, and 22 (33.8%) in spring. The majority of patients (56; 86.2%) were from rural areas, while only 9 (13.8%) resided in urban settings. Fungal growth was detected in 23 samples (35.3%), whereas no growth was observed in 42 samples (64.7%). Among the culture-positive cases, Trichophyton (T.) verrucosum was the most frequently identified species, accounting for 9 cases (38.7%). In conclusion, our findings indicate that T. verrucosum was the predominant etiological agent of kerion celsi in eastern Turkey. Additionally, the study reported the presence of fungal species not previously described in Turkey.