Scalp ringworm

Scalp ringworm is the main superficial fungus in children despite the improvement in the level of hygiene of the Tunisian population. The aim of our work is to analyse the epidemiological characteristics of ringworm of the scalp in the region of Tunis. Our study involved 60 mycological samples from the scalp during the year 2019. We collected 25 positive samples, i.e. a prevalence of 41.6%. The average age of the patients is 6 years with extremes of 2 to 18 years. The sex ratio was 2.57. The sensitivity of the direct examination was 88%. It was microsporic ectothrix parasitism in 96% of cases and trichophytic endothrix in 4% of cases. The culture was positive in 96% of cases and isolated Microsporum canis(87.5%), Microsporum gypseum (4.1%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (4.1%) and Trichophyton violaceum (4.1%). The predominance of zoophilic species is due to the change in the lifestyle of the population with more frequent cohabitation with domestic animals.