Mycological profile of tinea capitis in schoolchildren in rural southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Tinea capitis is a known common infection among schoolchildren in developing countries that is still underreported in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiologic and etiologic profile of tinea capitis among school-aged children in a rural area in southern Ethiopia. We collected demographic and clinicodermatological data from school children aged 3-12 years with tinea infections. Pathologic specimens were taken for potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount and mycological culture. Dermatophyte species were identified by macroscopic examination of the colony and microscopic examination of fungal cultures. A total of 634 schoolchildren were screened in the study; 128 cases were suspected for tinea capitis based on clinical examination of which 99 patients (mean age 6.7 years within a range of 4-12 years), who were subsequently positive, either based on KOH examination or showed growth of dermatophytes on culture, were included in our study. The ratio of males to females was 3:1. A total of 88 patients (89.9%) had a culture positive for dermatophytes. The zoophilic species Trichophyton verrucosum was the most prevalent isolate (n = 29 cases), followed by the anthropophilic species T. tonsurans (n = 27). The other Trichophyton species implicated were T. mentagrophytes (n = 14), as well as T. schoenleinii, T. soudanense, and T. violaceum. Only 11 of the isolates belonged to the genus Microsporum: M. audouinii (n = 8), M. ferrugineum (n = 2), and M. gallinae (n = 1). T. verrucosum, followed by T. tonsurans were the most frequent causative agents in this study.

Risk factors for scabies, tungiasis, and tinea infections among schoolchildren in southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional Bayesian multilevel model

“…The variations could be associated with personal hygiene, poverty, and climate conditions [ 55 ], as well as immune factors [ 67 – 69 ]. Consistent with findings elsewhere in Ethiopia [ 22 , 29 , 70 ] and other African studies [ 65 , 71 – 73 ], boys were more likely to be affected by tinea infection (particularly tinea capitis) than girls, perhaps due to the higher risk associated with frequent shaving or haircuts [ 55 ] or due to personal hygiene (e.g., frequency of hair washing).…”

Trichoscopic signs of tinea capitis: a guide for selection of appropriate antifungal

“…T. violaceum followed by M. canis was repeatedly reported to be the main causative organism of tinea capitis in Egypt and other North African countries 5,26,27 . Various other causative organisms had been reported from different parts of Africa including T. verrucosum , T. tonsurans , T. soudanense , and M. canis 4,28‐31 . In the United States, T. tonsurans is the most commonly isolated organism from tinea capitis patients replacing M. audouinii and M. canis 3,32‐34 .…”

Clinico-mycological profile of tinea capitis and its comparative response to griseofulvin versus terbinafine

“…In a number of studies performed in Iran, Didehdar [6], Abastabar [7], and Mohammadi [8] reported T. tonsurans, T. interdigitale, and M. canis as the most common frequent dermatophytes in TC, respectively. In a study carried out in a rural region in southern Ethiopia among schoolchildren, T. verrucosum was the most common pathogen of TC [21]. Identification of dominant pathogens of TC in each area is a matter of paramount importance in the selection of the proper treatment.…”