ISSN 2326-7283
African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN: 2326-7283 Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence of dermatophytes and other associated fungi among school children
Ndako, J.A,1 Osemwegie, O.O,1 Spencer T.H.I2 Olopade, B.K1 Yunusa, G.A,3 and Banda J4
1Department of biological sciences, college of science and engineering, Landmark University, PMB 1001 Omu Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
2Department of medical laboratory sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
3Department of medical microbiology, federal college of veterinary and medical laboratory sciences, Vom Nigeria.
4Department of pathology, general hospital Kafanchan, Nigeria.
Accepted 02 January, 2023
Abstract
The study investigated the prevalence of dermatophytosis and associated non-dermatophytes among Islamiyya school children of ages 5 – 13 years old in Kano metropolis. A total of 100 samples were collected and 91 (91%) yielded positive to fungal growth from which 66 (72.5%) were identified from males and 25 (27.5%) from females school children respectively. Dermatophytes amounting to 53 (58.2%) in frequency were recorded out of which 39 (73.6%) were isolated from males and 14 (26.4%) on females. Non-dermatophytes were also more in males (27 isolates) than females which had 11. The etiological agents of dermatophycoses recorded in this study in descending order of prevalence are M. ferrugineum (15.4%), M. canis (15.4%), M. audounii (9.9%), T. concentricum (5.5%), T. verrucosum (3.3%), T. rubrum (3.3%), T. mentagrophyte (2.2%), T. tonsorans (1.1%) and T. schoenleini (1.1%). A. flavus (9.9%), A. niger (8.8%), Penicillium sp. (7.7%), Candida albicans (5.5%), Mucor sp. (4.4%), Trichoderma sp. (3.3%) and A. fumigatus (2.2%) constituted the non-dermatophytes associated with these cutaneous infections. Higher frequency of dermatophytosis occurred more in children with greater propensity for play, interaction with domestic animals and who lacked the luxury of school seats during classroom learning.
Keywords: Dermatophytosis, non-dermatophytes, prevalence, school children, etiological agents, Kano metropolis.