Clinical and laboratory rationale for the use of Wood’s lamp in the diagnosis of Microsporum canis scalp mycosis

Introduction. The significance and diagnostic value of examination under Wood’s lamp have been widely discussed in recent years within the dermatological community. The use of this device optimizes the clinical diagnosis of superficial fungal infections, in particular scalp mycosis, based on the appearance of characteristic fluorescence at specific wavelengths.

Aim. To analyze the results of examining scalp mycosis lesions in children caused by Microsporum canis under Wood’s lamp and to evaluate the method’s effectiveness for early disease diagnosis.

Materials and methods. A single-center prospective observational study was conducted. The study included data from 43 patients who received outpatient treatment and follow-up at the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology between March 2023 and October 2025. All patients were examined using a Wood’s lamp to assess for the presence of characteristic fluorescence indicative of M. canis infection. Mycological examination included microscopic analysis of hair and scale material from the lesions and bacteriological (culture-based) study on Sabouraud agar to identify the causative agent species.

Results. Scalp mycosis was diagnosed across all age groups, with a slight prevalence among children aged 4 to 6 years. Patients reporting contact with domestic animals accounted for 48.8%, while family infection was implicated in 32.6%. The sensitivity of the method was 67.4%. The diagnostic method using Wood’s lamp demonstrated a statistically significant advantage in specificity (100.0%) in patients with an established epidemiological history related to animal infection and a diagnosis confirmed by culture.

Conclusions. The use of Wood’s lamp can enhance the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment of scalp mycosis. It has been demonstrated that careful analysis of epidemiological history is important for determining further patient management tactics. Consequently, a detailed analysis of various factors influencing fluorescence has the potential to significantly improve the scalp mycosis diagnostic process and ensure the timely prescription of adequate therapy.

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