African Journal of
Medical and Health Sciences

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Med. Health Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2384-5589
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMHS
  • Start Year: 2017
  • Published Articles: 80

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and identification of fungi associated with Tinea capitis in school children of Morogoro municipality, Tanzania

Magreth E. Macha
  • Magreth E. Macha
  • Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 175, Ifakara, Tanzania.
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Mariam R. Makange
  • Mariam R. Makange
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania.
  • Google Scholar
Gerald Misinzo
  • Gerald Misinzo
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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  •  Received: 19 June 2020
  •  Accepted: 07 September 2020
  •  Published: 31 October 2020

Abstract

Tinea capitis is one of the major common skin diseases affecting school-age children in developing countries, whose prevalence and associated fungi have not been fully investigated in these countries. This study investigated the prevalence and fungi associated with Tinea capitis infection amongst children attending selected schools in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 72 school children recruited from 10 primary schools in selected class strata in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. A multistage sampling technique was used. Skin scrapings were obtained from head lesions of school children followed with fungi isolation. Fungi were identified based on their morphological characteristics and nucleotide sequencing of the 5.8s rRNA gene and flanking internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2. Socio-demographic characteristics of sampled school children were collected using a questionnaire. The fungi associated with tinea capitis in school children were Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Cytobasidium minutum, Aspergillus spp, Ectophoma multirostrata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Penicillium flavigenum and Fusarium solani. Out of the 10 primary schools surveyed, Chamwino had an overall higher prevalence with 11 (15.3%) cases of tinea capitis. Overall, 31 (43.1%) of the school children washed their hair at least once a day. It was found that 30 (41.7%) and 39 (54.2%) school children shared combs and had a member in their family with tinea capitis, respectively. Furthermore, only 18 (25%) of the affected school children sought treatment. Tinea capitis is associated with multiple dermatophytes amongst school children in Morogoro Municipality. It is recommended that body hygiene education be emphasized in schools and congestion of classrooms be avoided in order to minimize transmission of the disease through contact.

Key words: Tinea capitis, Fungi Identification, dermatomycosis, dermatophytes, school children, Morogoro, Tanzania.