title: Incidence of Tinea capitis in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: To determine the incidence of tinea capitis in São Paulo, Brazil, an investigation was performed in Private and Public Pediatrics Service involving 4,500 children from 0 to 15 years old during 5 years (1996-2000). Samples were taken from 132 children with suspected fungal infection of the scalp, for direct microscopy and culture. Tinea of scalp was mycologically confirmed in 112 patients (85%). Males were more affected than females in all age groups. Children below 8 years old accounted for more than 75% of the occurrences. Only three cases of tinea capitis were diagnosed in children from 12 to 15 years of age. Tinea capitis was prevalent in 103 cases (91.96%); inflammatory kerion type lesions were diagnosed in 9 patients (8.04%). Microsporum canis (70.5%) and Trichophyton tonsurans (23.2%) were the most common agents followed by T. mentagrophytes (3.6%), M. gypseum (1.8%) and T. rubrum (0.9%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godoy-Martínez
authors.forename: M M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alchorne
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Boatto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fischman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008864:Microsporum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification