Prevalence of undetected tinea capitis in a school survey in Spain

Abstract

From October 1994 to November 1995, a prospective study aiming to detect dermatophytes on the scalp was undertaken in 5000 unselected school children aged between 3 and 16 years (mean age 8.34 years, SD +/- 3.83). Thirty-two (0.64%) had dermatophytes in the scalp, 22. (0.44%) had tinea capitis and 10 were asymptomatic scalp carriers. It is important to point out that 33% of the patients with tinea capitis and 60% of the asymptomatic scalp carriers also had ringworm in other body sites. There was a significantly higher proportion of cases of tinea capitis (P < 0.001)(particularly due to Trichophyton tonsurans, P < 0.001) and of cases of asymptomatic scalp carriers (P < 0.05) (particularly due to Trichophyton tonsurans, P < 0.001) in the immigrant population of African origin. In all the child index cases with positive scalp cultures (tinea capitis and carriers), the household members were studied clinically and mycologically. One child had a body ringworm caused by Microsporum canis. Twelve adults had positive cultures with dermatophytosis (one tinea capitis and eleven body ringworm). Three adult patients were also carriers of dermatophytes in other body sites. Our data indicate a change in the causative agents of tinea capitis seen in Madrid over a 12-month period, with cases due to antropophilic species (T. tonsurans, T. soudanense, M. audouinii and T. violaceum) occurring in the immigrant population from Africa; as a consequence, there is an emergence of T. tonsurans in the Spanish population.

Dermatophyte Infections In Primary School Children In Kibera Slums Of Nairobi

“…These findings correlate with those of a study done in a rural school in Kisumu whose prevalence was 10.1% but fell far below the prevalence as per a study done in an urban school in Eldoret with an estimated prevalence of 33.3% (15,16). The age range in this study was 6-11 years with the highest number of participants in the 6-8 years group.…”

“…This finding concurs with studies done in Kenya, Europe, Asia (16,17). This could be attributed to the exposed nature of the head/scalp compared to other body areas and hence ease of transmission and acquisition of infection.…”

“…This may be an isolated finding but could be an indication of possible change in the social behaviours of the participants (15,16).…”

Terbinafine hydrochloride oral granules versus oral griseofulvin suspension in children with tinea capitis: Results of two randomized, investigator-blinded, multicenter, international, controlled trials∗

“…3 Other estimates across the world include 7.4% in Egypt, 4 5.8% in rural Kenya, 5 and 50% to 56% in Ethiopia. 6 In contrast, lower prevalence has been reported in Spain (0.44%) 7 and in areas of the Palestine (0.4% to 1.9%). 8 In some areas as in Great Britain, a resurgence of tinea capitis was reported in the late 1990s.…”

Zentrifugal wachsende erythrosquamöse Plaques nach Westafrika-Aufenthalt

“…Es handelt sich dabei an erster Stelle um T. tonsurans. Darüber hinaus betrifft das jedoch auch die Arten T.soudanense, M. audouinii und T. violaceum [6].…”