Tinea capitis in Tunis: Study of 1,222 cases from 1985 to 1998

Objective. We studied the clinical and epidemiological profile of tinea cap itis in 1,222 cases collected in our departement of dermatology. Materials and methods. A retrospective study was carried out during 14 year s (1985-1998). Were included the patients whose diagnosis of tinea capitis was suspected clinically and confirmed by the mycologic examination. Results, A total of 1,222 cases of tinea capitis were studied from 1985 to 1998, This represents 1.3 % of tile new consultants per year. The mean age of patients was 7 years, The sex-ratio was 1.05. Trichophytic tinea, micros poric tinea, inflammatory tinea and favus represent respectively: 55.8 %, 4 1.7 %, 1.8 % and 0.6 %. Conclusion. In our study, tinea capitis affects school children without sex predominance. The trichophytic and microsporic tinea are the most frequent form. The inflammatory tinea is rare but more common in rural families. Fa vus is currently exceptional. Trichophyton violaceum (53 %) and Microsporum canis (44.7 %) are the main dermatophytes. Our epidemiologic profile is cl ose to that of the other northern African countries.