Prevalence of Tinea Capitis among Children Attending Some Islamiyya Schools in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Tinea capitis is a mycosis caused by pathogenic fungi known as dermatophytes, which is reported more among children than adults globally. It is also called ‘ringworm’ not because it is caused by a parasitic worm but due to the appearance of circular form on the infected scalp of an individual.  A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence, causes and socioeconomic factors related to Tinea capitis among children in some selected Islamiyah schools in Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 400 children were screened for Tinea capitis via culture and microscopy. The overall prevalence of Tinea capitis among the children was 29.3%. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most prevalent (10.8%), followed by Microsprorum canis (5.0%) and Trichophyton rubrum (5.0%). Other dematophytes included Trichophyton tonsurans (2.5%), Trichophyton violaceum (1.8%), Microsprorum audoinii (1.8%), but the lowest occurring was Trichophyton schoenleinii (1.0%) and   Epidermatophyton floccosum (0.5%). Antifungal susceptibility was carried out with three (3) antifungal agents, including itraconazole, terbinafine and griseofulvin. All the isolates were sensitive to itraconazole, 22 isolates of T. Mentagrophytes were sensitive to terbinafine; while 21 isolates of T. mentagrophytes were resistant to terbinafine. Some of the isolates were sensitive to griseofulvin while others were resistant to griseofulvin. Four (4) isolates of T. rubrum were resistant to terbinafine; while twenty (20) isolates were sensitive to both itraconazole and griseofulvin, and sixteen (16) isolates were sensitive to terbinafine. This suggests the high propensities of spread of Tinea capitis through human to human and animal contact.