Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

Vol 11, Issue 3, 2009; Page No.(507-512 )

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TINEA CAPITIS IN CHIDREN OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

E.C. WOKOMA AND N. FRANK-PETERSIDE

Abstract

A comparison of the prevalence and carriage of Tinea capitis was carried out in seven public and seven private primary schools, comprising of 1397 males and 1364 females in two local government areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. Clino-dermatology data was collected and specimens from randomly selected pupils were microscopically examined and cultured on saboraucl dextrose agar. Prevalence rate of children screened at schools was 9.85 % and 5.26 % for public and private schools, respectively, with more cases of dry non-inflamed lesions. More boys were infected in both public and private schools. 45 % of the girls in the public schools had Tinea capitis, compared with 37 % in the private schools. Clino-dermatology data also indicated that 77 % of the infected pupils in a private school used combination (topical and oral) therapy compared with none in a public school. The study further revealed that some pupils in the public school used topical herbal treatments. Five species and three species of etiologic agents were isolated from infected pupils in the public and private schools, respectively. The isolation rate was 5 % for Micros porum audouinii, M. canis, Trichophyton soudanense, T. mentagrophytes, and 2.5 % for T. tonsurans and T. yaoundei. The implementation of the UNICEF Child-friendly Schools Initiative, which encourages the teachers, pupils and parents to participate in hygiene and sanitation projects in their communities, is recommended.

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