IT IS WELL known that superficial infections caused by the Candida species (intertrigo, glossitis, perlèche, etc.) are relatively common in infants. Also, tinea favosa (a rare fungus infection of the scalp) tends to involve more than one member of the family, including infants. With the exception of these two forms of dermatomycosis, the modern textbooks of dermatology and pediatrics do not mention tinea infections occurring in infancy. However, Duhring,1 in his textbook on diseases of the skin, published in 1888, stated that infants are very susceptible to ringworm infections. He cited a case which had been reported by Lynch2 in 1876; in this instance a lesion, noted six hours after birth, was identified as tinea circinata when the child reached 3 weeks of age.
During the past year we have observed 10 infants who had superficial fungus infections. In each instance the disease had its onset before