A clinico-etiologic correlation in tinea capitis

Background Tinea capitis is a dermatophytosis with diverse clinical manifes tations. The causative fungi of tinea capitis vary with geography and time. This study aimed to identify the etiologic agents and to determine the cli nico-etiologic correlation of tinea capitis in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods From clinically suspected cases of tinea capitis, skin scrapings an d hair samples were taken and subjected to microscopy and culture. Results Of 100 evaluable patients, 95% were children below 12 years of age with almost equal sex incidence. Noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions w ere seen in 56.4% and 43.6%, respectively. Trichophyton violaceum was the m ost common etiologic agent, responsible for 82% of infection, followed by T , tonsurans (8%), T: verrucosum (5%), and T. mentagrophytes (5%). Conclusions T. violaceum is the predominant pathogen causing tinea capitis in this part of the world, and gives rise to a varied clinical picture.