Original scientific paper
Bilge Hapcioglu, Yildiz Yegenoglu, Rian Disci, Zayre Erturan and Hande Kaymakcalan
Bilge Hapcioglu1
Yildiz Yegenoglu
Rian Disci
Zayre Erturan
Hande Kaymakcalan
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis in children of elementary school age and to examine the socio-demographic attributes that may be effective in correlation of both mycoses. 3,390 female
and 3,768 male children between ages 6–14 have been examined in seven schools. Skin scrapings and nail samples were taken from 13 students who were suspected to have tinea pedis and from 49 students who were suspected to have onychomycosis. According to direct microscopy (10–15% KOH+calcofluor white) and culturel examination (Sabouraud
dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium) 11 students were diagnosed as tinea pedis and 24 were diagnosed as onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated in 3 students with tinea pedis whose culture was positive and five Candida albicans, five Candida glabrata and one Candida tropicalis cases were isolated from 11 samples with onychomycosis. Tinea pedis prevalence has been found to be 3.3%0. Differences between onychomycosis prevalence based on age have been found to be significant (p<0.001). In conclusion, it has been determined that the prevalence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis among children is low. Candida spp. was isolated from all of the 14 samples diagnosed as onychomycosis. Our study shows similar results with previous studies done in Turkey and that Trichophyton rubrum continues to be the most isolated agent.
Keywords
tinea pedis; onychomycosis; superficial mycosis; epidemiology; elementary school children; Istanbul; Turkey
Hrčak ID:
8900
URI
Publication date:
16.3.2006.
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