High prevalence of tinea capitis in newly arrived migrants at an English-language school, Melbourne, 2005.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a reported increase in tinea capitis in an English-language school to determine if it was an outbreak and whether control measures were warranted.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Primary school children enrolled at an English-language school in an outer suburb of Melbourne were screened for tinea capitis in November 2005 by clinical examination, collection of scalp, skin or nail specimens where clinically indicated, and scalp brushing.


METHODS
Clinical diagnosis of tinea capitis confirmed by microscopy and culture.


RESULTS
Parental consent was obtained for 180 children (98%), of whom 153 (85%) were screened. Dermatophytes were isolated from 21% (32/153) of the children screened, comprising 23 infected children (cases) and 9 carriers. Three dermatophyte species were identified: Trichophyton soudanense, Trichophyton violaceum and Microsporum audouinii. Cases and carriers were significantly different to non-cases by ethnicity (P = 0.010): a higher proportion came from Africa, notably Sudan, and Arabic countries.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our result may reflect what is expected in these migrant groups, tinea capitis caused by these three dermatophyte species is rare in Australian school children. Tinea capitis may continue to be a problem in these groups on account of continuing migration.
McPherson
Michelle E
ME
Communicable Disease Control, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. michelle.mcpherson@health.sa.gov.au
Woodgyer
Alan J
AJ
Simpson
Kleete
K
Chong
Alvin H
AH
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology