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Screening for asymptomatic carriage of Trichophyton tonsurans in household contacts of patients with tinea capitis: results of 209 patients from South London
Author(s) -
White JML,
Higgins EM,
Fuller LC
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2007.02173.x
Subject(s) - tinea capitis , trichophyton tonsurans , medicine , dermatophyte , carriage , asymptomatic , dermatology , scalp , asymptomatic carrier , transmission (telecommunications) , trichophyton , surgery , pathology , antifungal , electrical engineering , engineering
Background There is currently an epidemic of tinea capitis in urban areas of developed countries caused by Trichophyton tonsurans . Recurrence or re‐infection with dermatophyte is not uncommon after adequate oral treatment. Asymptomatic carriers who are household contacts may partly explain this observation by forming a reservoir for infection. Patients/methods Two‐hundred and nine household contacts of patients with tinea capitis were examined and screened for asymptomatic carriage of dermatophyte. Results Only 7.2% had clinically evident disease yet 44.5% had silent fungal carriage on the scalp. Children under 16 years were much more likely to be carriers than adults ( P < 0.001) and males were less likely than females to be affected ( P < 0.01). Conclusion This evidence poses questions about factors relevant in transmission of dermatophytes. The authors propose that all household contacts of patients with tinea capitis should be offered screening to eradicate a potential reservoir of infection.