TINEA CAPITIS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract Background. Tinea capitis is a dermatophyte infection of the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes caused by species of Microsporum and Trichophyton. The purpose of this study was to discover the incidence and causal agents of tinea capitis in Saudi Arabia. Methods. Hair roots, skin scrapings, and pus swabs were collected from patients clincially diagnosed with tinea capitis and were processed for fungus. Results. Of 372 patients with tinea capitis investigated in Saudi Arabia, 240 were found to be positive by direct microscopic examination, and the causal agent was isolated from 237 patients. Tinea capitis accounted for 47.7% of all superficial mycoses, and 97% of it occurred in children below 15 years of age. Inflammatory lesions were found in 35% of cases, and 10 of them presented with kerion celsi. Favus‐type lesion was found in one. Microsporum canis was the most common etiologic agent, responsible for 82.3% of the infections. Trichophyton violaceum was the next most common agent (13.9%), followed by M. audouini (2.2%); T. mertagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum, and T. simii were isolated from one patient each. This is the first report of T. simii infection in a Saudi man. Conclusions. Although none of the patients owned pets, the predominance of M. canis may be explained by the large number of cats in the neighborhood. The disappearance of favus due to T. schoenleinii may be due to improved socio‐economic conditions. Our results agreed with two previous reports.