White piedra is a rare fungal infection of hair and is reported to be all the more rare on scalp.
Trichosporon inkin
is usually associated with white piedra of pubic hair. We report a case of
white piedra of scalp hair caused by
T. inkin. This is the first case reported from India and
the fifth case reported worldwide. A 50-year-old Muslim female presented with white knots
over scalp hair. Diagnosis of
Trichosporon was made by examining KOH mounts of epilated
hair and Lactophenol Cotton Blue preparations of the growth in culture. Automated mini-
API test (for biochemical profiles) and Electronmicroscopy studies (for cell wall structures)
helped in identification of the species. Mini-API test was also positive for
Cryptococcus curvatus
which could be due to similarity in biochemical and physiological properties of the
two species. Absence of
C. curvatus on culture further supports this view. Topical antifungal
therapy resulted in clinical clearance within 2 months. Higher incidence of scalp white piedra
is observed in Muslim females; contributing factor being the custom of using a veil, leading
to higher humidity and limited sunlight exposure.
