[Epidemiology of tinea of the scalp in Togo]

In 1985, 374 children of primary schools in North and South Togo were examined and sample of hair were collected on all children with small sterile squares of carpet. 11% of the children in the North (dry and urban area) and 20% in the South (wet and rural area) had obvious clinical lesions. Two species of dermatophytes were isolated: Microsporum langeronii and Trichophyton soudanense; this second dermatophyte being uncommon in the South. Moreover, 15% of the children of the North and 42% of the children of the South were asymptomatic carriers. One year later, these asymptomatic carriers had frequently developed clinical lesions. A survey carried out in 131 inhabitants of a small village in the South, showed that clinical lesions were mostly observed in children between 5 and 9 years and that 7.6% of these inhabitants were asymptomatic carriers. Lastly, no dermatophyte could be isolated from 30 cats and dogs.