TINEA-CAPITIS - A 10-YEAR SURVEY IN CRETE IL, FRANCE

Introduction. We analyzed tinea capitis data in a Paris suburban area over a Ii-year period From (1985-1995) to evaluate epidemiology trends . Patients and methods: The following data were collected for patients seen at the Creteil myco-dermatology clinic with cultures positive fo r tinea capitis: sex; age, ethnic origin, fungal culture. Results. Tin ea capitis was observed in 336 cases (56 p. 100 females). Eight percen t of the patients were under the age of 10 years and 11 p. 100 over 20 years. Trichophyton soudanense was isolated in 45 p. 100 of the patie nts. Anthropophilic agents rose over the 10 year period while the numb er of zoophilic agents remained stable. Specific dermatophytes appeare d to predominate in populations of different ethnic origin. There was a two-fold increase in the number of tinea capitis cases in the 1990-1 995 period compared with the five previous years. Discussion. The perc entage of adults with tinea capitis (11 p. 100) is higher than the 5 p . 100 reported in the literature. The rise in the number of anthropoph ilic tinea capitis cases resulted from an increase in T. soudanense (o riginating in Africa), probably related to the increasing immigrant po pulation. This agent was identified in 95 p. 100 of the patients of Af rican origin. Differing lifestyles and transmission between school chi ldren makes it quite difficult to interpret the correlation between et hnic origin and specific dermatophytes.