Prevalence of tinea capitis among school age children in eastern Sudan

Abstract

Background: Tinea capitis is a widespread fungal disease affecting the scalp, hair follicles, and skin underlying them. Ring worm infection is most common in children, particularly in late childhood and adolescence, as well as in immunocompromised individuals. There are no reports on the prevalence of Tinea capitis in children in Port Sudan. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore out how prevalent Tinea capitis is in school-aged children, to identify associated risk factors, to help raise public awareness about the importance of hygiene and treatment, and to mitigate infection spread. Methods: This study included a retrospective descriptive review of dermatology clinic patient reports from May 2016 to March 2018, as well as a direct interview with primary school students in Port Sudan, Red Sea State. To recognize the most susceptible age groups, genders, risk factors, and clinical manifestations. Data was collected based on clinical diagnosis by dermatologists, and children were interviewed based on laboratory diagnosis by authors using KOH of unstained scraping preparations after overnight incubation, and Tinea capitis was confirmed microscopically. Data from documents and questionnaires were manually interred and analyzed, and frequencies were measured and displayed in tables. Results: An overall prevalence of Tinea capitis was (17%) 235/1350 among the entire study population. The study showed that the disease is more in male than female with male: female ratio (4:1), and the most vulnerable age group was (4–8 years), 116/235 (49.4%), the incidence was increased by crowding [46/50,92%] the most affected neighborhoods was El Qadisiyah[62/235 (26.4%)].The commonest clinical feature was the weakness of the hair[40/50,80%]. Conclusion: There has never been a report on Tinea capitis in Port Sudan, and there are no screening services to assess the incidence. According to the findings of present study, Tinea capitis was common (17%) among children attending government-owned state primary schools in Portsudan-Red Sea State. Male gender and residing in Sudan's Red Sea climatic region were reported to be independent risk factors.