A retrospective study on the prevalence of tinea (ringworm) infections in patients who attended halibet national referral hospital, dermatologic clinic from 2014 to 2018 Asmara, Eritrea.

Abstract

Introduction: Skin fungal diseases pose a significant burden on the health care system of a country. Superficial fungal skins infections are caused by dermatophytes. Dermatophytes are classified as one of the groups of Fungi. The three genera of dermatophytes grow in keratinized environments such as hair, skin, and nails. Anthropophilic dermatophytes are restricted to human hosts; zoophilic dermatophytes to pets, livestock, and horses; and geophilic dermatophytes, from soil, only occasionally infect humans and animals. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Tinea (Ringworm) infections in patients who attended Halibet National Referral Hospital, Dermatologic Clinic from 2014 to 2018 Asmara, Eritrea. Methods: A five year retrospective study on the prevalence of superficial fungal skin infections was conducted in the outpatient department in patients who attended dermatologic Clinic at Halibet National Referral Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea from 2014 to 2018. A review of clinical cards / medical records was conducted and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: During the five years period (2014- 2018) the Dermatology clinic of Halibet Hospital had a total visit of 32,153 patients who were treated as outpatients. Out of these patients who came from the whole country as referral and self-referral, 5524 (17.18%) were diagnosed clinically as cases with different types of Tinea infections. The number of females (2791, 50.5%) and males (2732, 49.5%) was almost the same. The highly infected body site was the head (77.5%) followed by the body (11%), face (6%) and hand (3%). And the most common type of Tinea that clinically identified was Tinea capitis 58% (n=4426) as it is compared to other types of Tinea. The other types of Tinea species that were found as comorbid with others were Tinea faciei, Tinea corporis, Tinea pedis, Tineamanuum, Tinea cruris and Tineaunguium as prevalent as 26.8%, 6.6%, 3.5%, 3.4%, 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively Conclusion: The study concludes the overall prevalence of superficial Tinea skin fungal infections was found to affect mostly the head (77.0%), body (11%), face (6%) and hand (3%), foot (2%) and groin (1%), respectively. And the most common type of Tinea that clinically identified was Tinea capitis 58%. The other types of Tinea species ere found as comorbid with others Tinea faciei, Tinea corporis, Tinea pedis, Tineamanuum, Tinea cruris and Tineaunguium as prevalent as 26.8%, 6.6%, 3.5%, 3.4%, 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively.