Fungal Skin Infections — MCQs

Q: Which of the following tests is used in the diagnosis of tinea faciei?

KOH mount. ***KOH mount*** - A **KOH (potassium hydroxide) mount** is the gold standard for diagnosing **dermatophyte infections**, including **tinea faciei**. - The KOH solution dissolves keratinocytes, allowing for the visualization of fungal **hyphae and spores** under a microscope. *Gram's stain* - **Gram's stain** is primarily used to differentiate bacterial species based on their cell wall properties. - It does not effectively visualize **fungal elements** and is therefore not used for diagnosing tinea infections. *Tissue smear* - A **tissue smear** involves examining cells from a lesion, typically for conditions like viral infections (e.g., Tzanck smear for herpes) or some cutaneous malignancies. - It is not the standard or preferred method for identifying **dermatophyte fungal structures**. *Wood's lamp* - A **Wood's lamp**, which emits ultraviolet light, is used to detect certain fungal infections (e.g., *Microsporum* species causing tinea capitis) and bacterial conditions (e.g., erythrasma). - Many common dermatophytes causing **tinea faciei** (e.g., *Trichophyton*) do not fluoresce under a Wood's lamp, making it an unreliable diagnostic tool for this specific condition.

Practice by Chapter

Dermatophytoses

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Tinea Versicolor

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Candidiasis

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Onychomycosis

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Subcutaneous Mycoses

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Systemic Mycoses with Cutaneous Manifestations

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Opportunistic Fungal Infections

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Mycetoma

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Tropical Fungal Infections

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Diagnosis of Fungal Infections

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Antifungal Therapy

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Preventive Strategies

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