Tinea capitis:A tropical disease of hygienic concern among primary school children in an urban community in Nigeria

Abstract

Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophyte infection in school age children in developing countries and is known to impact negatively on their health and well-being. This study determined the prevalence of T. capitis and its relationship with hygiene among primary school pupils in Ile-Ife. This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited randomly selected pupils from public and private schools in Ile-Ife from March to April 2017. The data was collected with the use of a pre-tested intervieweradministered questionnaire on hygiene followed by physical examination. Children with a clinical diagnosis of tinea capitis had scalp and hair scrapings for microscopy and culture. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 420 pupils participated, 240 (57.1%) males and 180 (42.9%) females aged between 4 and 16 years. The overall prevalence rate of T. Capitis infection was 21.7% with etiological agents consisting of Epidemophyton floccosum (12.0%), Microsporum gypseum (7.7%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (7.7%) while 33% grew Aspergillus niger (a contaminant) and no organism was isolated in 36 (39.6%) clinically diagnosed cases. The infection was prevalent among pupils sharing combs, had close contact with animals, playing with sand and lower socio-economic status. School type and personal hygiene were the major determinants of tinea capitis infection. Prevalence of T. capitis infection among school children was high and the infection is associated with poor level of hygiene and low socio-economic status. Health promotion and health education interventions are needed to promote good hygiene, early identification and treatment of the infection.

Hubungan Higiene Perorangan Dengan Angka Kejadian Dermatofitosis

“…Anak dengan kebersihan pribadi yang baik memiliki risiko 4x lebih rendah terhadap terjadinya tinea kapitis (p = 0,03). 22 Studi oleh Hosthota, Gowda dan Manikonda menunjukkan bahwasannya faktor risiko terjadinya dermatofitosis antara lain kebersihan yang buruk (32%), penggunaan steroid topikal (23,9%), diabetes (20,1%) dan trauma (11,4%). Dalam studi ini, peneliti juga menyatakan kebiasaan saling berbagi menggunakan peralatan rumah, termasuk sisir dan handuk, terutama antar anggota keluarga dalam strata social ekonomi rendah yang dapat memfasilitasi penularan.…”

Prevalence and risk factors associated with canine dermatophytoses among dogs in Kwara and Osun States, Nigeria

“…While over 20 species of dermatophytes have been found in domestic animals, the most common in dogs are Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and Trichophyton spp (6) Transmission of dermatophytes occurs rapidly via direct contact with infected animals, fomite-associated contact with infectious spores and sometimes air-borne (7). The close interaction between humans and animals have allowed for easy transmission of dermatophytes to humans through direct contact with cutaneous lesions of infected animals, with M. canis, Tinea capitis and T. corporis being the most commonly isolated from humans (8).…”

Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analyses of Opportunistic Pathogenic Fungi Associated to Tinea capitis among pupils from Selected Schools in Somolu Local Government, Lagos state, Nigeria

“…A well-defined area of hair loss is eventually produced (Bennassar and Grimalt, 2010). Tinea capitis is a highly contagious fungi infection, with a high prevalence among pre-pubertal children, and endemicity in several parts of Nigeria (Oladele and Denning, 2014;Afolabi et al, 2018). The problem of Tinea capitis fungal disease has become more serious…”