title: Persistent Desquamation of the Scalp as a Manifestation of Tinea Capitis in Sub-Saharan Children.
abstract: Scalp hyperkeratosis of childhood is most often associated with atopic or seborrheic dermatitis. However, in black children can be associated with tinea capitis. We undertook a retrospective study in all Sub-Saharan children presenting with chronic scalp scaling between June 2010 and June 2013, to determine whether chronic desquamation of the scalp is a clinical manifestation of tinea capitis. The criterion used to diagnose tinea capitis was a positive mycolological culture. Of the 23 Sub-Saharan African children attended, 12 (43.4%) presented with chronic scalp flaking. Mycological culture was performed in 9 of the 12 cases. The culture was positive in 6 out of 9, so 26% of the Sub-Saharan African children attended were diagnosed with tinea capitis. In 52.1% of the cases with persistent scalp scaling the culture was positive. In conclusion, chronic scaling of the scalp may well be the sole form of presentation of tinea capitis in Sub-Saharan children.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, University General Hospital of Alicante, Avenida Pintor Baeza 12, 03010, Alicante, Spain, betlloch_isa@gva.es.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Betlloch-Mas
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Albares-Tendero
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Soro-Martínez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Crespo
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014006:Tinea Capitis / Q000175:diagnosis*