TINEA-CAPITIS IN TRINIDAD

Characteristics of clinically diagnosed cases of tinea capitis from Tr inidad are described. Tinea capitis comprised 29.5% of all dermatophyt oses seen at one general hospital out-patient dermatology clinic durin g a one-year period. Males were more often affected than females and t here was a predominance of patients of African descent. Among the derm atophytes cultured Trichophyton tonsurans was the most prevalent (52.9 %), followed by Microsporum canis (20.0%) and M. audouinii (18.6%). Le ss frequent isolates included M. gypseum (1.9%), T. mentagrophytes var granulare (1.4%) and T. rubrum (1.4%).