Behçet's disease is a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. The cause of Behçet's disease remains unknown, but epidemiologic findings suggest that an autoimmune process is triggered by an environmental agent in a genetically predisposed individual. An infectious agent could operate through molecular mimicry, and subsequently the disease could be perpetuated by an abnormal immune response to an autoantigen in the absence of ongoing infection. Potentia bacterial are Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mycobacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycoplasma fermentans, but the most commonly investigated microorganism is Streptococcus sanguinis. The relationship between streptococcal infections and Behçet's disease is suggested by clinical observations that an unhygienic oral condition is frequently noted in the oral cavity of Behçet's disease patients. Several viral agents, including herpes simplex virus-1, hepatitis C virus, parvovirus B19, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, may also have some role.
The presence of vitiligo and even mild psoriasis is significantly correlated with a family history of cardiovascular disease, a factor that requires greater attention and follow-up with respect to that necessary for vitiligo patients.
A 14-day-old girl was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a diffuse facial annular eruption. The child was discharged from the hospital 48 hours after birth and the first lesions appeared 9 days later. Past medical history was remarkable only for preterm caesarean delivery. Examination revealed the presence of erythematous scaly annular patches with central resolution over the cheeks and nose (Figure). No infections during pregnancy were noted by the mother. The infant was thriving and gaining weight appropriately. There was no family history of cutaneous or autoimmune disease and no other members of the family had similar skin lesions. Laboratory findings were unremarkable.A direct microscopic examination of the lesion in a potassium hydroxide preparation was performed revealing numerous dermatophyte hyphae. A culture on Sabouraud agar produced colonies in 3 weeks. A final diagnosis of tinea faciei caused by Microsporum canis was made. She was treated with a topical therapy with bifonazole 1% cream twice a day, with a complete resolution of the lesions after 14 days without any relapses after 1-month follow-up. The source of infection was unknown; there was a cat living in the house which was not found to have active lesions; however, this could be the carrier of the fungal infection.Tinea faciei is very rarely reported in literature in a newborn. 1,2 It is important to consider a possible differential diagnosis, including Langerhans histiocytosis, secondary syphilis, seborrheic dermatitis, erythema multiforme, and neonatal lupus. 3,4 The prompt clinical resolution, after 2 weeks with topical therapy, is possibly due to the poor keratinization of neonatal skin, which causes a poor substratum for the fungus growth. n
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