Scalp ringworm in south-east London and an analysis of a cohort of patients from a paediatric dermatology department

✍ Scribed by L.C. Fuller; F.C. Child; G. Midgley; E.M. Higgins

• Book ID: 104460406
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 75 KB
• Volume: 148
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05022.x

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Scalp ringworm or tinea capitis has become an increasingly important public health issue in the past decade in great britain. recently, certain dermatology departments in london have seen a large increase in tinea capitis in all its forms.

Objectives:

The aim of this paper is to present the detailed analysis of a cohort of 277 patients with tinea capitis seen during a 2-year period together with the latest local figures of tinea capitis cases from an inner city paediatric dermatology service. methods demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected prospectively over 2 years from all cases of ringworm in patients seen in a paediatric clinic specially set up for scalp problems.

Results:

Sixty-two per cent of 277 cases of scalp ringworm were caused by trichophyton tonsurans, occurring mainly (91%) in patients with afro-caribbean hair type, more often in boys (68%), and in the 3-8 year olds (70%). only 7% of the patients had received appropriate treatment with oral griseofulvin. an additional 156 cases from the general paediatric dermatology clinic showed 91%t. tonsurans infections.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of scalp ringworm appears to be reaching epidemic proportions in certain areas that include south-east london. the clinical problem is not yet well recognized by local general practitioners.