White Piedra hiding in plain sight: A Case of persistent hair shaft nodules in a seven year old girl.

Abstract

White Piedra is typically an asymptomatic superficial fungal infection of the hair shaft caused by yeasts of the genus Trichosporon. It prevents a, white to light-coloured nodules that may partially or completely encircle the affected portion of the hair shaft and are typically soft and lesley attached. This feature is useful in distinguishing the condition from other hair shaft disorders, such as nits of pediculosis captious, which attach firmly to one side of the hair shaft.

This case study describes the clinical and environmental characteristics of a seven (7) year old girl presenting to our clinic, with a long standing, previously undiagnosed hair shaft condition that was ultimately identified a white piedra.

This case highlights the importance of recognising the characteristic clinical features of white piedra while also considering environmental factors and hair care practices, that may contribute to its development and persistence in paediatric patients.

The condition was treated successfully with a combination of topical anti fungal therapy, mechanical removal of hair shaft nodules, modification of hair care practices and attention to contributing environmental factors such as heat and humidity.