Epidemiology of scalp ringworms and superficial fungal infections in schools in Mauritania.

Abstract

Introduction: Scalp Tinea is the most common mycosis in children and adolescents. The objective of this work was to determine the epidemiological and etiological profile of Scalp Tinea in schoolchildren in Mauritania, during the year 2019.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study lasting four months, from May to September 2019, in a sample of schoolchildren from Nouakchott, included following a random survey at three levels, having benefited from a clinical examination, mycological and culture samples.

Results: A total of 228 children out of the 434 included (52,5%) were detected as carriers of Scalp Tinea, after fungal culture, i.e. rates of 54% in boys and 46% in girls. The most affected age group was 9–12 years (49%). Public schools were the most affected (37,7%), followed by private schools (32%) and traditional schools (30,3%), (p<0,05). Trichophyton sudanense represented 23,5% (n=102) followed by Trichophyton rubrum (15,4%, n=67) and Microsporum langeronii 8,1% (n=35). The type of habitat, the humidity of the environment and walking with bare feet did not significantly influence the presence of ringworms, unlike overcrowding (sleeping with more than two people). The prevalence of scalp ringworms increased from 1,3% for children sleeping on single beds to 22,8% in children sharing their beds and to 75,9% in students sleeping together on the same bed (p˂0,05).

Conclusion: The results of this survey, conducted in 2019, confirmed the changes in the epidemiological and ecological trend of the mycological profile of Scalp Tinea, in Mauritania. It is necessary to strengthen these results with the molecular characterization of fungal strains circulating in our country.