EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF TINEA-CAPITIS IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN THE NABLUS AREA (WEST-BANK)

A study of tinea capitis was carried out during the period January-Jun e 1996 in 7525 primary schoolchildren aged 6-14 years comprising 4050 boys and 3475 girls in the Nablus district in the Palestinian area. Fo urteen primary schools located in rural, urban and refugee camp areas were surveyed in this study. Seventy-five (1.0%) mycologically proven cases of tinea capitis were detected. The incidence was higher in scho ols in rural areas (1.9%) than in refugee camps (1.1%) or urban areas (0.4%). Also, the incidence was higher in young children (1.4%) aged 6 -10 years than in older children (0.5%) aged 10-14 years. Boys 52 (1.3 %) were more commonly affected than girls 23 (0.7%). Higher disease in cidence was found to be correlated with larger family and class sizes. Trichophyton violaceum was the most common aetiological agent (82.7%) followed by Microsporum canis (16%) and Trichophyton schoenleinii (1. 3%). The findings are discussed in relation to the children's differen t socioeconomic and hygienic backgrounds. A mycological investigation carried out on 117 tinea capitis cases at a clinic in the area under s tudy showed similar results to those of the school survey.