Childhood dermatomycoses study in Sfax Hospital, Tunisia

Mycoses are frequent affections in childhood. Fungal type varies according to the age and the affected organ. The aim of this study was to determine the aetiological agents of childhood dermatomycoses and to draw attention to the diversity of their clinical manifestations. Retrospective study dealing with children's cases with age <16-year old and having dermatomycosis diagnosed between 1991 and 2005 at the Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory of Sfax University Hospital. A total of 4559 children suspected to have superficial mycoses were examined. Dermatomycosis diagnosis was confirmed in 49.3% of cases. Dermatophytes were the most prevalent fungal agents and accounted for 1865 cases (80.6%) dominated by Trichophyton violaceum (54.1%) and Microsporum canis (24.5%). Tinea capitis (69.4%) was the most common type of infection, followed by tinea corporis (20%). Superficial yeast infections (442 cases) were dominated by Malassezia infections (71%). Candida infections were mainly due to Candida albicans (58%). The clinical features of paediatric dermatomycoses vary with the age of the children: tinea capitis and tinea corporis were more frequent before 13 years of age. After this age, tinea versicolor and onychomycoses became more common.