title: Onychomycosis in primary school children: association with socioeconomic conditions.
abstract: Onychomycosis in childhood is reported to be unusual. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of onychomycosis in primary school children and to make comparison between different socioeconomic status in the rural and urban areas of the city. Hand and foot nails of 23235 children aged 7-14 were examined. Onychomycosis was suspected and nail scrapings for mycological examination were taken in 116 of them. Hyphae or spores were seen in 41 (0.18%) by direct microscopic examination, and mycological cultures were positive in 24 (0.1%) of them. Toenails were affected in all of the fungal culture positive cases. Trichosporon spp, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata grew in 11, 6, 5 and 2 of the cultures respectively. Onychomycosis prevalence was significantly higher in the children living in the rural areas (p = 0.016) [Odds ratio = 3.43 (%95 CI 1.11<OR<11.84)], and onychomycosis was more frequent in boys than girls (p = 0.001) [(Odds ratio = 5.85 (1.66<OR<24.61)].
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. drtgunduz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.forename: Dilek Yesim
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Metin
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sacar
authors.forename: Süleyha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hilmioglu
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baydur
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inci
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tümbay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology