The Pattern, Risk Factors and Clinico-Aetiological Correlate of Tinea Capitis Among the Children in a Tropical Community Setting of Osogbo, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Background and study aim: Tinea. capitis is an important infective dermatologic disease of worldwide distribution among children. Its frequency is increasing especially in the developing world, and has become an endemic disease in some places. To determine the prevalence, the risk factors, pattern and clinico - aetiological correlate of Tinea capitis among the children in Ilie community. Patients and Methods: A total of 370 children aged 5 – 16 years; 185 with Tinea capitis as subjects and 185 relatively healthy children as controls. Multistage sampling method was employed, and house to house survey for Tinea capitis was conducted. The diagnosis of Tinea capitis was made and scrapings were obtained for microscopy and culture. Results: The mean age was 7.31 + 2.52 years for the subjects and 7.40 + 2.43 years for the controls. The mean age of onset of T. capitis was 5.2 + 2.039 years. The prevalence of T. capitis in Ilie Community was 43.5%. Contact with animals, soil and individuals with T. capitis were the prevalent risk factors for T. capitis. Large family size did contribute but not significantly to the spread of Tinea. Also, history of atopy did correlate but not significantly with disease chronicity. A total of 120 isolate representing 7 different dermatophytes including; T. metangrophytes (67.5%) as the leading organism were isolated. There was no case of mixed infection. Other isolates include T. tonsuran (13.3%), T. rubrum (10.8%), M. aodounii (2.5%), M. gypseum (2.5%), T. violaceum (1.7%), T. soudanence (1.7%). Trichophyton metangrophytes was the most frequent organism causing the predominant non – inflammatory type of T. capitis (Gray patch and Black dot type) though not exclusively among children age group 5-8 years and 9-12 years, followed by T. tonsurans. A bold step must be taken to effectively reduce contact with the sources of infection. Conclusion: Tinea capitis remains an endemic disease reaching variable epidemic proportion in some populations as seen in Ilie among the children. The non – inflammatory type (GPTC, BDTC) were the prevalent clinical types of T. capitis in Ilie.