Clinico mycological study of tinea capitis

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">Tinea capitis is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp and scalp hair that is caused by dermatophytes most commonly in children. It is caused by genera Trichophyton and Microsporum</span><span lang="EN-IN">.</span>The <span lang="EN-GB">aims and objectives of the study were to study the epidemiological aspects, various etiological agents, clinical types, clinic etiological correlation and to note the changing trends.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">All new patients with tinea capitis were included for the study after KOH positivity. For total 98 patients in all age groups, fungal culture was performed from scalp scrapings. The epidemiological factors and the clinic etiological correlation were also assessed</span>.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> <span lang="EN-GB">Tinea capitis was found most commonly in the 5-10 years age group with a male preponderance (69%). Non inflammatory types were more commonly observed in 66.3% of cases, with grey patch being the most common type. Kerion was most common in inflammatory group. <em>T. tonsurans</em> (31.1%) was the most frequently isolated fungus followed by <em>T. violaceum </em>and<em> T. mentagrophytes</em> in 25.7% each. In previous studies <em>T. violaceum</em> was the most common agent isolated in South India, whereas <em>T. tonsurans</em> is the most common agent in this study, showing a changing scenario. The clinic mycological correlation revealed that a single pathogen may give rise to various clinical types</span><span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In any location, the pathogenic species may change with time. A single pathogen may give rise to various clinical types.</p>