A clinico-etiologic correlation in tinea capitis

Background: Tinea capitis is a dermatophytosis with diverse clinical manifestations. The causative fungi of tinea capitis vary with geography and time. This study aimed to identify the etiologic agents and to determine the clinico-etiologic correlation of tinea capitis in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: From clinically suspected cases of tinea capitis, skin scrapings and hair samples were taken and subjected to microscopy and culture. Results: Of 100 evaluable patients, 95% were children below 12 years of age with almost equal sex incidence. Noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions were seen in 56.4% and 43.6%, respectively. Trichophyton violaceum was the most common etiologic agent, responsible for 82% of infection, followed by T. tonsurans (8%), T. verrucosum (5%), and T. mentagrophytes (5%). Conclusions: T. violaceum is the predominant pathogen causing tinea capitis in this part of the world, and gives rise to a varied clinical picture.