Epidemiology of tinea capitis among primary school children in Assiut City

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional survey of a representative sample of 1765 students was undertaken. Children were subjected to clinical examination and culture was followed for suspected cases. Data on the sociodemographic, school environment, family as well as hygienic practices and habits were collected. Prevalence of tinea in the studied population was 4% and infection was mainly caused by anthropophilic fungi. Trichophyton violaceum was isolated from 62% of cases, while T. soudanense from 11.3%, Cladosporium from 5.6%, Candida albicans from 2.5% and M. audoini from 2.5%. The only zoophilic fungus detected was Microsporum canis in 15.5%. There was an association between tinea and crowding index in the classroom and the type of school whether public or private