Dermatophytosis and its risk factors among children visiting dermatology clinic in Hawassa Sidama, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dermatophytosis represents one of the common fungal diseases that attack the skin, hair and nail of human beings worldwide. It causes chronic morbidity in children and the condition is more common, in developing countries. The study aimed to determine dermatophytosis and its associated factors among children in Hawassa Sidama, Ethiopia April 2021–October 2021. A cross-sectional study was conducted on children suspected of cutaneous fungal infections. Data were surveyed based on a semi-structured questionnaire. Standard laboratory methods were used to identify the dermatophytes. The data entry and analysis were conducted with SPSS version 26. The Chi-square test was used to check the predictor and a p-value < 0.05 was taken as a significant value. A total of 83 study subjects included in the study in which all 83 (100%) patients were positive for fungal elements (hyphae/and spores) in microscopy, of this 81 (97.6%) yielded growth on culture. Hair scalps 75 (90.4%) were the dominant among the case. Trichophyton 52 (62.6%) was the dominant aetiology followed by Microsporum 22 (26.6%). Intervention measures to tackle dermatophytosis should emphasis on tinea capitis among 6–10 years old children with history of recent migration by raising awareness of communities through health extension programs.