Dermatophytes and other fungi associated with scalp-hair of nursery and primary schools

Abstract

A total of 2,117 nursery and primary school children aged 1-13 years were surveyed for scalphair infection in Awka, Nigeria between January and March 2004. Specimens for mycological investigations were confirmed by microscopic examinations in 100 cases (4.7%) and the causative agents was isolated and cultured in 84 positive cases (3.9%). Zoophilic dermatophytes accounted for 42%, followed by geophilic (37%)a and anthropophilic (21%) dermatophytes. Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were the main etiologic agents. Other nondermatophytic
fungi species isolated were Alternaria alternata 14 (17%), Aspergillus fumigatus
10 (12%) Fusarium solani 7 (8%), Penicillium sp 3 (4%) and Candida albicans 3 (4%).

Keywords: Mycosis, Hair-scalp, Dermatophytes, Dermatophytosis

Sudanese Journal of Dermatology Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 15-21