[Epidemiological, clinical and etiological profile of tinea capitis in adult patients in Dakar, Senegal].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiological and etiological profile of tinea capitis in adults in Dakar (Senegal).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A 9-month prospective, multicenter, descriptive and analytic study. Patients included were aged over 18 years. Mycological tests were used to confirm the diagnosis.

RESULTS

121 patients were included with a mean age of 36.1 years and a hospitalisation frequency of 0.8%. The age range of 64.4% of patients was between19 and 38 years. 51% of patients were housewives. A low socioeconomic level was found in 72.8% of cases. In 3.3% of patients, the disease began in childhood. 31.4% of patients had already consulted a traditional healer. Similar familial cases were noted in 60.3% of patients. Contact with a sheep was noted in 32.2% of cases, deliberate skin lightening in 64% of women, hair salon attendance in 46.7% of women, and immunosuppression in 17.3% of patients, while itching was present in 95.5%. Dermatologic examination showed scaled plaques and a diffuse form, with 92.6% and 64% (n=75) respectively. Wood's light examination was positive in 40.2% of patients. A positive culture test was found in 71%. The most frequently encountered species were: T. soudanense (65%), M. audouinii (21%), T. rubrum (4.7%), M. gypseum (3.5%), T. violaceum (2.3%), T. verrucosum (2.3%) and M. canis (1 case). The clinical course was favorable under treatment with griseofulvin or terbinafine.

CONCLUSION

Tinea capitis in adults mainly affects young women. The diffuse form is the most common. The most frequently encountered species was T. soudanense.