Athlete's Foot Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Athlete's Foot, including details on tinea, causes, treatment, prevention.

Screening for asymptomatic carriage of Trichophyton tonsurans in household contacts of patients with tinea capitis: results of 209 patients from South London.

White JM, Higgins EM, Fuller LC

Department of Cutaneous Allergy, St. John's Institute of Dermatology, London, UK. jonathan.white@gstt.nhs.uk

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.

Published 23 August 2007 in J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 21(8): 1061-4.
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