Infectious Alopecia in a Child Day-Care Center

To the Editor.—  Tinea capitis is a common cause of hair loss and seborrheic dermatitis in children. Recent reports have suggested an increase in the rate of recognition of tinea capitis, as well as a shift from the previously more common etiologic agent Microsporum sp to the now prominent Trichophyton tonsurans.¹ This change in causative agents is important in that Microsporum sp is transmitted primarily from animal to man with frequent spontaneous resolution in humans while Trichophyton is transmitted person to person and infection may follow a chronic course without appropriate therapy.In view of these considerations and the growing number of children in day-care centers, it should be expected that the association of tinea capitis and day-care attendance will merit more attention.

Report of a Case.—  A Birmingham, Ala, child day-care center having an enrollment of 78 children aged 1 to 4 years reported that five children developed