SUMMARY Background: Although urticaria has been reported in association w ith tinea or other fungal infections, usually this relationship is considered coincidental. Clinical case: We report the case of a patient that developed two episodies of generalised urticaria as- sociated with dermatophytosis. An allergologic stu- died was performed. Skin prick tests with a battery of common inhalant allergens and foods were nega- tive. A culture of scrapings from lesions was perfor- med and Epidermophyton floccosum colonies w ere identified. The patient was treated with oral antihis- tamines and topical clotrimazole and the skin lesion and urticaria healed in 14 days in the first episode and in 10 days in the second one. Conclusions: Our results suggest a relationship betw een dermatophytosis and urticaria. Therefore, the allergologist should be aw are of tinea infection as a cause of urticaria. Key words: Urticaria. Dermatophytosis. Epydermophyton. Allergy. Clotrimazole. INTRODUCTION Undetected infections have long been considered a cause of urticaria; however the incidence is extre- mely low. Urticaria has been w ell documented during viral infections such as infectious hepatitis and infec- tious mononucleosis and a large number of helmint- hic parasites are cleary associated with urticaria. Only few bacteria have been implicated as possible cau- ses of urticaria, sporadic cases have been reported in which removal of a dental abscess or gangrenous gallbladder led to prompt resolution of urticaria alt- hough larger surveys have generally found no asso- ciation between infections in patients with urticaria and the course of hives (1). Similarly, the association of tinea or monilial infections and urticaria is usually considered coincidental (2). We report tw o episodies of urticaria in the same patient and in both episodies, associated w ith a fun- gal infection. In the literature, there are no studies re- porting a similar case. CLINICAL CASE A 40-year-old woman developed folliculitis in her legs after depilation. She w as treated w ith topical corticosteroids and 10 days later she started a ge- neralised urticaria and an annular scaling patch in her left leg was observed. A diagnosis of probable Pseudomonas folliculitis and tinea incognita w as made. A culture of scrapings from skin lesion w as performed and Epidermophyton floccosum colonies were identified. The patient was treated with oral antihistamines and topical clotrimazole during 21 days and the skin lesion and urticaria healed in 14 days. Previously, she never had had urticaria. Then, she was asymptomatic but six months later she developed an annular scaling patch in her right leg, w ithout previous depilation. Simultaneously, ge- neralised cutaneous erythema and urticaria appea- red. In this case, the patient had usual contact w ith a cat. An allergologic studied was then performed. Skin prick tests (SPT) with a battery of common inha- lant allergens and foods w ere negative. A culture of scrapings from lesion w as performed and Epidermophyton floccosum colonies w ere identified. She was treated with topical clotrimazole during 21 days, the urticaria healed in 10 days and so did the skin lesion in 21 days. Allergol et Immunopathol 2002;30(6):344-5 Urticaria associated with dermatophytosis J. M éndez a , A. Sánchez a , and J.C. M artínez b a Allergy Section. Hospital Río Carrión. Palencia, Spain, b Allergy Section. Hospital Virgen de la Concha. Zamora, Spain. Documento descargado de http://www.elsevier.es el 22/10/2016. Copia para uso personal, se prohíbe la transmisión de este documento por cualquier medio o formato.