Etiology of dermatophytoses amongst school children in Cross River State of Nigeria.

Summary: A school survey of dermatophytoses was carried out during the period 1984–1985. A total of 2 353 primary school children aged 4–16 years were screened. Out of these, 133 were proved to be mycologically positive by microscopy and/or culture. Incidence was significantly higher in young children aged 4–6 years (4.6%) and 7–11 years (6.9%) than in older children 12–16 years (3.5 %). There was no significant difference in the incidence of dermatophytoses amongst children in the urban and rural areas (p < 0.05). Tineas capitis was the predominant clinical type followed by tinea corporis. Tinea unguium and tinea pedis were rarely encountered. Trichophyton soudanense was the most prevalent etiological agent (54.7%), followed by T. tonsurans (31.6%) and Microsporum audouinii (11.6%). Other species recovered included one isolate each of T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum.