Tinea capitis in Botswana

BACKGROUND Tinea capitis (TC) is a common dermatophyte infection of the scalp that can also involve the eyebrows and eyelashes. AIM This study aimed to find the causative fungus responsible for TC in Botswana and determine its association with the clinical types of TC. METHODS Samples for potassium hydroxide 10% mounts and fungal cultures were collected in a microbiology laboratory at the National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana. Dermasel agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar were inoculated with the samples. Lactophenol cotton blue mounts were prepared from the culture-positive samples to study the morphological characteristics. RESULTS Trichophyton violaceum was found to be the predominant causative organism of TC. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated from one patient. Both are anthropophilic species. CONCLUSION TC was found to be most common in those aged 1-15 years (81%). Of 17 patients in this age group, 16 were younger than 10 years old and one was 14 years old. T. violaceum was the most common dermatophyte species isolated.