1 Section of Dermatology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana and Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sporotrichosis, a world-wide disease caused by Sporotrichium schenckii, occurs as a subacute or chronic infection, usually of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, but may on rare occasions undergo extracutaneous dissemination. Sex and race may be less important than age in its genesis. Children are rarely attacked. The organism occurs as a saprophyte on various plants and has been isolated from the soil.
Direct person-to-person transmission probably does not occur, although infection has followed the handling of bandages from clinical lesions,1 and from animals.2
The majority of the cases of sporotrichosis are of the localized lymphangitic type. There is usually a history of minor trauma (i.e., scratch, prick, or insect bite) followed within 1 to 4 weeks by the appearance of a small, painless papule or pustule.