Tinea capitis outbreak and other superficial mycosis in an urban community of Medellín.

Biomedica

Grupo Micología Médica, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.

Published: August 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • Dermatophytoses, including tinea capitis, are fungal infections affecting the skin and were observed in children from a low-income neighborhood in Medellín, Carpinelo, amidst a suspected outbreak.
  • A descriptive study was conducted involving 57 individuals, primarily children aged six, with various forms of dermatophytosis, finding high prior steroid use among patients.
  • Results identified tinea capitis as the most prevalent form, with Microsporum canis being the most common fungal species isolated, highlighting the need for accurate microbiological diagnosis for effective treatment.

Article Abstract

Introduction. Dermatophytoses are superficial fungal infections of the keratinized epithelium like tinea capitis. The latte mainly affects school-vulnerable populations. Carpinelo is a peripheral neighborhood in Medellín with poor socioeconomic conditions and where a suspected tinea capitis outbreak took place. Objective. To study and characterize, clinically and microbiologically, patients with suspected dermatophytosis in Carpinelo. Material and methods. We carried out a descriptive and longitudinal study with an active case search of tinea capitis in children and their relatives from the Jardín Educativo Buen Comienzo community in Carpinelo. Patients were clinically evaluated, and samples of scales and hair were taken to perform mycological studies with a 10 % potassium hydroxide and culture in Sabouraud and Mycosel agar. We analyzed the data with the statistical program SPSS™. 25 version. Results. Fifty-seven individuals were studied: 47 were children with a mean age of six years and a ratio of 2:1 male to female. Patients with confirmed diagnosis presented the following clinical forms: tinea capitis (78.95%), tinea faciei (15.79%) or tinea corporis (10.52%). Out of the total, 69.76% of the patients had previous treatment with steroids. The direct test was positive in 53.84% of the samples, and 46.15% had positive cultures. The isolated species were: Microsporum canis (77.77%), Trichophyton spp. (11.11%), Trichophyton rubrum (5.55%), and Malassezia spp. (5.55 %). Conclusion. Tinea capitis was the most common clinical form, and M. canis was the most frequently isolated species. The use of steroids as the first and only option for empiric treatment was worth of notice. The findings of this study point out the importance of microbiological diagnosis in choosing the best treatment for the patients.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10599352PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.6900DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

tinea capitis
24
tinea
8
capitis outbreak
8
isolated species
8
capitis
5
patients
5
outbreak superficial
4
superficial mycosis
4
mycosis urban
4
urban community
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!