Tinea Capitis in Children of Nepal
Author Information
Author(s): Basnet Sangeeta Baral, Basnet Narayan Bahadur, Hiruma Masataro
Primary Institution: Juntendo University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What are the etiological agents and risk factors of tinea capitis in school children of Nepal?
Conclusion
The only isolated organism from both urban and rural schools was Trichophyton violaceum, with hair loss being more common in urban children.
Supporting Evidence
- 96.1% of children experienced itching.
- 32.4% of children had hair loss.
- 63.6% of positive cases were girls.
- Sharing of combs was significantly associated with positive cases.
- Frequency of bathing was associated with the isolation of the organism.
Takeaway
This study looked at a scalp infection called tinea capitis in school kids in Nepal and found that a specific fungus was causing it, especially in kids who shared combs and bathed less often.
Methodology
Hair samples were collected from schoolchildren with clinical features of tinea capitis and examined using mycological techniques.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported hygiene practices and the limited geographic scope of the study.
Limitations
The study was limited to two schools in the Kathmandu area and may not represent all regions of Nepal.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 4-16 years, with a higher prevalence in girls and rural areas.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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