Etiology of dermatophytoses amongst children in northeastern Nigeria.

A survey of dermatophytoses was carried out amongst primary school children in Borno State, Nigeria, during February 1997 to January 1998. A total of 2,193 children aged 4-16 years were screened. Out of these, 154 (7.0%) were proved to be mycologically positive by microscopy, culture or both. Incidence was significantly higher (P <0.05) in young children aged 7-11 years (8.1%) and 4-6 years (6.9%) than in older children aged 12-16 years (3.6%). There was a significant difference in the incidence of dermatophytoses amongst children in urban and rural areas (P <0.05). Tinea capitis was the predominant clinical type followed by tinea corporis. Trichophyton schoenleinii was the most prevalent etiological agent (28.1%), followed by T. verrucosum (20.2%) and Microsporum gallinae (18.4%). Other species recovered included T. mentagrophytes (16.7%), T. tonsurans (10.5%), T. yaoundei (4.4%) and M. gypseum (1.8%).