[Pityrosporum ovale in seborrheic dermatitis in children and in other dermatoses in children].

60 children aged from one month to two years were studied: 15 presenting with childhood seborrheic dermatitis, 15 with childhood atopic dermatitis, 15 with various childhood dermatoses and 15 healthy asymptomatic children. Samples of cutaneous scales from the scalp, face, sternal area and inguinal area were taken for the purpose of determining the presence of ovale by direct microscopy examination and culture. P. ovale was found in 73% of the infants presenting with seborrheic dermatitis, in 33% of those with atopic dermatitis, in 33% of those with other dermatoses and in 53% of the healthy infants. The proportion of infants in whom all four samples were found to be positive to P. ovale was as follows: 42% for seborrheic dermatitis, 20% for atopic dermatitis, 20% for other childhood dermatoses and 23% in the healthy infants. The majority of infants with both positive microscopy and culture for P. ovale were aged one to eight months. The group presenting with seborrheic dermatitis was treated with 2% ketoconazole cream or two weeks. Clinical cure was achieved in 11; mycological examination was negative in 13. P. ovale was significantly more frequent in infants with seborrheic dermatitis than in infants belonging to the other three groups. The role of P. ovale in the pathophysiology of seborrheic dermatitis is discussed.