Ali Jemal, Yifru Sisay, Woldeamanuel Yimtubezinash
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Ethiop Med J. 2009 Oct;47(4):261-9.
Tinea capitis is a worldwide public health problem that poses specific therapeutic challenge. This dermatophytosis of the scalp is characteristically a fungal infection affecting children between 5 and 15 years of age. A decision on treatment of tinea capitis requires identification of the specific causative fungal agent or at least establishment of the prevalence of a given dermatophyte in a given community.
to estimate the prevalence of tinea capitis, assess predisposing risk factors and identify the causative fungal agent in school children in north Gonder zone, Northwest Ethiopia.
This was a cross sectional study conducted in two elementary schools in Gondar town. Clinico-dermatological data and questionnaire on socio-demographic information, living and hygienic conditions were collected. Mycological investigation was done by microscopic examination culture.
A total of 372 students were screened for Tinea capitis infection, 262 from Meseret elementary school and 110 from Chechela elementary school. Among these, 61% (n = 227) were female and 39% (n = 145) were male. The median age was 10 years old, 98% of the study subjects were within the age range of 5 to 15. From the screened 372 children 47.5% (n = 177) were clinically suspected for Tinea capitis and 174 scalp samples were collected Microscopic examination in KOH (10%)-wet-mount preparation revealed 65.5% (n = 14) had fungal elements (hyphae and/or arthroconidia) in their clinical samples. Out of 174 specimen 50.0% (87) were culture positive. 33.9% (59) were contaminated and in 16.0% (28) were culture negative. From the positive samples 86.2% (75) were identified as Trichophyton violaceum. The rest 13.8% (12) were further sub-cultured at 37 degrees C and studied morphologically, and identified as Trichophyton verrucosum.
A high prevalence of Tinea capitis caused by T. violaceum was found in school children in Gondar. Ethiopia. Provisions for prevention and control should be set in the schools focused on hygiene control and health education.
头癣是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，带来了特定的治疗挑战。这种头皮皮肤癣菌病的特点是真菌感染5至15岁的儿童。对头癣治疗的决策需要确定特定的致病真菌病原体，或者至少确定特定社区中给定皮肤癣菌的流行率。
估计埃塞俄比亚西北部贡德尔地区北部学童头癣的患病率，评估易感风险因素并确定致病真菌病原体。
这是一项在贡德尔镇两所小学进行的横断面研究。收集了临床皮肤病学数据以及关于社会人口信息、生活和卫生条件的问卷。通过显微镜检查培养进行真菌学调查。
共对372名学生进行了头癣感染筛查，其中262名来自梅塞雷特小学，110名来自切切拉小学。其中，61%（n = 227）为女性，39%（n = 145）为男性。年龄中位数为10岁，98%的研究对象年龄在5至15岁之间。在筛查的372名儿童中，47.5%（n = 177）临床上疑似患有头癣，并采集了174份头皮样本。在氢氧化钾（10%）湿片制备中的显微镜检查显示，65.5%（n = 14）的临床样本中有真菌成分（菌丝和/或关节孢子）。在174份标本中，50.0%（87份）培养呈阳性。33.9%（59份）被污染，16.0%（28份）培养呈阴性。在阳性样本中，86.2%（75份）被鉴定为紫色毛癣菌。其余13.8%（12份）在37摄氏度下进一步传代培养并进行形态学研究，被鉴定为疣状毛癣菌。
在埃塞俄比亚贡德尔的学童中发现由紫色毛癣菌引起的头癣患病率很高。应在学校制定预防和控制措施，重点是卫生控制和健康教育。
