Ringworm infection among Sudanese school children

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Abstract
Schoolchildren (8,443) were examined for ringworm infection and the causal organisms were identified by cultural methods for the 1st time in Sudanese history. Certain areas were not visited because of transportation difficulties. An overall incidence of ringworm infection of 4.2% rising to 17% in certain schools was shown. Tinea capitis presented the main problem occurring in 3.2% of the children. Fungi were isolated from 172 scalp specimens; of these 79 (46%) were Microsporum audouinii, 75 (43.6%) Trichophyton violaceum, 13 (7.5%) T. soudanense, and 5 (2.9%) M. canis. Tinea corporis was far less common, amounting to 0.88% of the total cases. The infection was caused mainly by T. violaceum (42%) and M. audouinii (32%). M. canis was responsible for 5%. Although 7 children had lesions that looked like tinea unguium, no organism could be isolated from the nail scrapings. The infection rate in this series was high in boarding schools. Tinea capitis was seen more often in boys than girls, but tinea corporis was nearly equal among both sexes. Pityriasis versicolor was definitely more common in girls than boys[long dash] a ratio of 21 to 1[long dash]and the constant oiling of skin by girls probably provides nourishment for Malassezia furfur. The intermediate zone of the Sudan may be the dividing line between the Mediterranean countries of North Africa where T. violaceum is the main organism and tropical Africa where T. soudanense prevails. Some of the strains diagnosed as M. audouinii did not altogether show the characteristic picture of M. audouinii as seen in European countries; but they were called M. audouinii to avoid confusion.

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