Prevalence of Tinea Capitis, Mycotic infection among Primary School Children in Erbil city

Abstract

Tinea capitis is a worldwide public health problem that generates specific therapeutic challenges. Tinea capitis is dermatophytosis or ringworm of the scalp and hair. Tinea capitis is the most common superficial mycosis in school children, in developed and undeveloped regions. To the best of our knowledge there is currently no review on prevelance of Tinea capitis in study area, so this study was undertaken to determine the prevelance and intensity of Tineacapitis as well as identify the causative fungal agents of dermatophyte infection among five primary school childrens scattered in three quarters in Erbil city (Zanko1, Zanko 2 and new Zanko village. The study population composed of (180) school children aged (6-13) years who had important clinical signs of scalp dermatophytosis. Out of this number (68.33%) were males, while (31.7%) were femels. Tinea capitis infection was higher in age group(8-9) years and lower in age group(11-12)years.Cultures of hair samples were done, then macroscopical and microscopical examination were performed for dermatophyte isolates, direct microscopy and culture was positive in(78.33%) and(6.66%) of the cases were positive in direct microscopy and negative culture. The invasion of hair was Ectothrix type, forming masses of arthroconidia on the outside of the hair shaft in 117 (76.47%) specimens, while the invasion of hair was Endothrix type, and abundant sporulation inside the hair shaft causes breakage of the hair near the surface of the scalp in 36 (23.52%)specimen. Predominant isolates in the study were T. mentagrophytes (34.52%) and Microsporumspeacies (26.19%), Candida albicans and other Candida species were also isolated from five school childrens.