Changing in the Epidemiology of Tinea Capitis among School Children in Egypt.
- Author:
Rasha H BASSYOUNI
1
;
Naglaa A EL-SHERBINY
;
Talal A ABD EL RAHEEM
;
Basma H MOHAMMED
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Epidemiology; Microsporum canis; School students; Tinea capitis
- MeSH: Child*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Egypt*; Epidemiology*; Female; Hair; Humans; Male; Microscopy; Microsporum; Prevalence; Scalp; Tinea Capitis*; Tinea*; Trichophyton
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2017;29(1):13-19
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis remains a prevalent health problem among school-aged children. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of tinea capitis among primary school students, in Fayoum, Egypt with identification of etiological agents in both public and private primary schools. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in twelve primary schools. The students were selected from different grades with a total number of 12,128 students. Hair and scalp were clinically examined for any lesions that may suspect tinea capitis and mycological samples were collected for direct microscopy and culture. RESULTS: The prevalence of tinea capitis in the study group was 0.4% and higher in public than private schools (73.5% versus 26.5% respectively). Boys were more affected than girls with boy to girls' ratio 5:1. Intrafamily history of infection was present in 40.8% of tested group while 51% showed low social standard profile. Mycological culture revealed that Microsporum canis was the predominant isolated organism followed by M. audouinii (52% and 36% respectively). CONCLUSION: M. canis is replacing Trichophyton violaceum as an etiology for tinea capitis in Egypt with lower prevalence rate than reported previously.
