CUTANEOUS MYCOSES IN SANTHERN, IRAN (SCALP RINGWORM)

Abstract

A survey on the detection of scalp ringworm, its prevalence and etiological agents, was carried out in 12 different localities in the Bandar Abbas area, southern Iran, in February 1970. Two thousand one hundred fifty-three subjects consisting of 1,275 school children from 3 primary schools and one secondary school in the town and 689 rural school children from 6 different villages, together with 189 inhabitants of all age groups from 2 villages, were examined clinically and hair samples were collected from suspected cases. Form 165 specimens collected, 67 (3.1%) showed an ermatophyte responsible for the scalp lesion either by direct examination or in culture. T. violaceum was isolated from 80% of the positive cases, T. sudanensis from 15% and T. tonsurans and T. schoenleinii from 1.6% each.95.5% of the positive cases were children of 6-14 years of age. Three percent of the urban school children, 3.3% of the rural school children and 6.9% of theilliterate village children were infected. The remaining 4.5% were rural infants of 2-5 years of age and youngsters of the age. It was evident that higher economic status, transportation facilities and education had some influence in decreasing the disease.