Tinea capitis: epidemiological characteristics of 132 cases

Abstract

Introduction: tinea capitis is a superficial mycosis produced by dermatophytes, more common in children and exceptional in adults. Objectives: to know the epidemiological and mycological characteristics of tinea capitis in patients who were attended in the Dermatological Specialties Center of San Lorenzo. Methodology: retrospective, observational and cross-sectional study, in which the files and records of all patients with clinical suspicion of tinea capitis, referred to the laboratory of the Dermatological Specialties Center in the period july 2017-august 2019 were analyzed. The patients underwent direct mycological studies and cultures for confirmation of the diagnosis and identification of the etiologic agent. The sex, age, residence, possession of domestic pets and isolated etiological agent were considered. Results: 132 patients with a diagnosis of tinea capitis, 69 (52.3 %) men and 63 (47.7 %) women were studied. The age of presentation was from 1 year to 14 years, with an average of 5 years. The main etiological agent isolated was Microsporum canis 99/132 (75 %) followed by Trichophyton tonsurans 29/132 (22 %). Conclusions: the epidemiological findings obtained are agree with other scientific studies, highlighting M. canis and T. tonsurans as the main etiological agents.