Tinea capitis infection among school children in rural setting of Jos north-central, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Tinea capitis is a common infection of the scalp and hair shaft caused by dermatophytes. It is an infection associated with low socioeconomic status and poor personal hygiene.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving pupils in two public schools in rural setting with clinical features suggestive of tinea capitis. Scrapings were collected from the scalp of the pupils between September 2018 and February 2019 and subjected to laboratory analysis of microscopy and culture. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software.
Results: Atotal of 67 pupils with clinical features of tinea capitis had positive cultures in the laboratory (21.5%), most of the pupils were of age range 4-8years (56.7%) and mainly males 167(52.2%). Factors associated with spread of tinea capitis were not statistically significant except for the sharing of towel(P<0.001). Trichophyton mentagrophyte (40.3%) was the most isolated agent of tinea capitis followed by Microsporumgypseum (31.3%)
Conclusion: Tinea capitis infection remains a problem associated with rural settlement and poor personal hygiene. A nationwide surveillance is required to prevent the spread.

Keywords: Tinea capitis, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Dermatophytes, Microsporumgypseum