SUPERFICIAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN A RURAL COMMUNITY

Abstract

A survey was carried out among 1,724 primary school children aged 6
– 16 years with mean age of 9.73 + 2.73 years and made up of 794 (46.1%)
males and 930 (53.9%) females in Ugbawka, a rural community in Enugu
state, to determine the pattern of superficial fungal infections.
Diagnosis was based on positive clinical findings, potassium
hydroxide microscopy and / or fungal culture.
The true prevalence and incidence rates were 25.1% and 0.2% (over a period
of 6 weeks) respectively. Males were significantly more affected than
females (P<0.05). Mean age of pupils that had superficial fungal infections
was 9.37 + 2.306 years. Tinea capitis (78.9%), tinea corporis (24.1%) and
pityriasis versicolor (18.5%) were the types of superficial fungal infections
found. Majority of pupils with superficial fungal infections had the lesions
for 6 weeks or more. The skin lesions were polymorphic. Infected pupils
responded to ketoconazole tablets or cream for two to three weeks. Low
social class, high number of persons sleeping together in bed, laundry and
bathing habits, methods of faecal and refuse disposal, contact with persons
with skin problems and low level of personal hygiene were significantly
associated with occurrence of superficial fungal infections. The fungi
isolated were Trichophyton soudanense (56.1%), Trichophyton tonsurans
(21.6%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (5.3%), Microsporum audouinii
(2.7%), Trichophyton rubrum (1.7%) and Mallassezia furfur (12.6%).
It is recommended that health education and school inspection, as parts of
school health programme, be carried out regularly. Further studies are also
recommended to determine the effect of preventive measures on incidence
and to determine safety profile of newer antifungal drugs in children.

SUPERFICIAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN A RURAL COMMUNITY