Prevalence of superficial fungal infections among primary school pupils in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State

Skin fungal infections are common global problems with attendant morbidity amongaffected individuals. Children are mostly affected because of predisposing factors such aspoverty, overcrowding, and lack of guidance. Investigation on the prevalence ofsuperficial fungal infections among primary school pupils was carried out in Awka SouthLocal Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Six public primary schools wereselected for this study. The samples were collected by scrapping and use of a sterile swab.Microscopy and culturing methods were used to identify the infections. Of the 870 pupilsexamined, 353 (40.57%) had various skin fungal infections; Tinea capitis 229 (64.87%),Tinea corporis 96 (27.20%), Tinea faciei 25 (7.08%), and Tinea pedis 3 (0.85%). Sixtyfive(18.41%) had multiple skin fungal infections; 21 (31.34%) pupils from ObioraPrimary School, Mbaukwu, recorded the highest, while Community Primary School,Amawbia 3 (7.32%) recorded the least infection (P> 0.05). Two hundred and twenty-ninepupils (64.87%) had the highest prevalence of Tinea capitis, while 3 (0.85%) pupils hadthe least infection recorded for Tinea pedis. Pupils from Central Primary School, Nibo, 82(56.55%), had the highest prevalence, while 39 (26.90%) pupils from the Central PrimarySchool, Umuawulu had the least infection. The age group of five to nine years was moreinfected than the 10–14-year age group. More male (199 (56.37%)) than females pupilswere infected with skin fungal infections; this difference was not statistically significant.Poor personal hygiene and intimate association with household pets among the childrenwere the suspected sources of infection. Therefore, there was an urgent need for masstreatment of superficial fungal infections in all the primary schools examined.