Prevalence of tinea pedis, tinea unguium of toenails and tinea capitis in school children from Barcelona.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of tinea capitis, tinea pedis, and tinea unguium in children from several schools of Barcelona city. METHODS: During the period of 2003-2004, a prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 1,305 children (9% immigrant population) between the ages 3 and 15 in 17 schools in Barcelona. A systematic examination of the feet, (including nails and scalp), was performed to identify lesions compatible with tinea. Cultures of scalp and feet samples were done and analysis of environmental samples was performed for dermatophyte isolation. RESULTS: Dermatophytes were isolated in 2.9% of the samples with a prevalence of 2.5% in feet, 0.23% in scalp, and 0.15% in nails of the feet. The predominant etiologic agents in feet were Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 45.7% of the cases and Trichophyton rubrum in 31.4%. In the nails, T. rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans were isolated, while T. mentagrophytes (2 cases) and Trichophyton violaceum (1 case) were identified in scalp samples. Forty-five per cent of dermatophytes were isolated from healthy feet, the majority of cases in children 13- 15-years-old (p < 0.05). Microsporum gypseum was the only agent identified in the environmental samples, and was also found in one of the cases of tinea pedis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate a low prevalence of tinea capitis and tinea unguium in school children of Barcelona. On the contrary, high prevalence of dermatophytes in feet was found. It highlights the high prevalence of healthy carriers of dermatophytes in feet.

Prevalence of tinea capitis and tinea pedis in Barcelona schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Although dermatophytoses can appear at any age, some types are particularly prevalent in children. There are no prior data on the prevalence of tinea capitis and tinea pedis in Barcelona, Spain. To identify the prevalence of tinea in school children in the area with the highest immigrant population in this city, a cross-sectional study was performed. A second objective was to identify the etiologic agent to study the possibility of the introduction of foreign dermatophyte species and to evaluate the possibility of encountering healthy hosts. METHODS: From October 2002 until June 2003, we evaluated 1305 schoolchildren, ages 3-15 years, belonging to 21 schools located in the inner city of Barcelona to determine the prevalence of tinea capitis and pedis in school children. Cultures of scalp and feet were done in each child. RESULTS: 36(2.8%) children had tinea pedis and 3 (0.23%) had tinea capitis. One child had tinea capitis and tinea pedis, caused by different species (t. capitis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes and tinea pedis caused by Trichophyton rubrum). Of the 39 positive cases for dermatophytes, the etiologic agent in 18 (46.1%) was T. mentagrophytes, 17 (43.5%) T. rubrum, 2 (5.5%) Epidermophyton floccosum and 2 (5.5%) Trichophyton tonsurans. Of these 39 cases of tinea, 15 (38.5%) were Spanish natives and 22 (56.4%) were immigrants. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of tinea capitis was lower that we had expected, and it was noted that there was a greater prevalence of tinea pedis among schoolchildren 13-15 years of age (64.10%), the great majority of them male. The number of cases of tinea was significantly greater in immigrants.

Prevalence of tinea pedis, tinea unguium of toenails and tinea capitis in school children from Barcelona

ObjetivoEvaluar la prevalencia de tinea capitis, tinea pedis y tinea unguium en niños de diferentes escuelas de la ciudad de Barcelona.MétodoDurante el periodo 2003–2004 se efectuó un estudio prospectivo en 1.305 niños (9% de inmigrantes) de edades comprendidas entre los 3 y los 15 años, en 17 escuelas de dos distritos de la ciudad de Barcelona. Se realizó un examen sistemático de los pies, uñas de los pies y cuero cabelludo de todos los niños, seguido de la toma y posterior cultivo de muestras del cuero cabelludo y pies, así como de muestras ambientales para aislar e identificar la presencia de hongos dermatofitos.ResultadosSe aisló un 2,9% de dermatofitos de las muestras clínicas, correspondiéndose con una prevalencia del 2,5% en pies, 0,23% en cuero cabelludo y 0,15% en uñas de pies. Las especies predominantes fueron Trichophyton mentagrophytes en el 45% de los casos y Trichophyton rubrum en el 31,4%. En uñas se cultivó T. rubrum y Trichophyton tonsurans, mientras que en cuero cabelludo se aisló T. mentagrophytes (dos casos) y Trichophyton violaceum (un caso). El 45% de los dermatofitos se aislaron de niños aparentemente sanos, la mayoría de los cuales se encontraban entre los 13 y los 15 años de edad (p<0,05). Microsporum gypseum fue el único dermatofito aislado del medio ambiente, encontrándose también en un caso de tinea pedis.ConclusiónLos resultados de este estudio demuestran una baja prevalencia de tinea capitis y tinea unguium en escolares de Barcelona. Destaca la elevada prevalencia de aislamientos de dermatofitos en pies, con gran proporción de portadores sanos(AU)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of tinea capitis, tinea pedis, and tinea unguium in children from several schools of Barcelona city.MethodsDuring the period of 2003–2004, a prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 1,305 children (9% immigrant population) between the ages 3 and 15 in 17 schools in Barcelona. A systematic examination of the feet, (including nails and scalp), was performed to identify lesions compatible with tinea. Cultures of scalp and feet samples were done and analysis of environmental samples was performed for dermatophyte isolation.ResultsDermatophytes were isolated in 2.9% of the samples with a prevalence of 2.5% in feet, 0.23% in scalp, and 0.15% in nails of the feet. The predominant etiologic agents in feet were Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 45.7% of the cases and Trichophyton rubrum in 31.4%. In the nails, T. rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans were isolated, while T. mentagrophytes (2 cases) and Trichophyton violaceum (1 case) were identified in scalp samples. Forty-five per cent of dermatophytes were isolated from healthy feet, the majority of cases in children 13–15 years old (p<0.05). Microsporum gypseum was the only agent identified in the environmental samples, and was also found in one of the cases of tinea pedis.ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate a low prevalence of tinea capitis and tinea unguium in school children of Barcelona. On the contrary, high prevalence of dermatophytes in feet was found. It highlights the high prevalence of healthy carriers of dermatophytes in feet(AU)