Outbreak of Tinea capitis and corporis in a primary school in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Authors

  • Jean-François Carod Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
  • Mahery Ratsitorahina Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
  • Hasina Raherimandimby Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
  • Virginie Hincky Vitrat Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
  • Vololomboahangy Ravaolimalala Andrianaja Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
  • Nelly Contet-Audonneau Laboratoire de mycologie, hôpital Fournier, CHU de Nancy, 36, quai de la Bataille, 54035 Nancy cedex, France

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.1944

Keywords:

Tinea capitis, Microsporum audouinii, dermatophytes, outbreak, Madagascar

Abstract

Introduction: Tinea capitis is common among schoolchildren in developing countries but underreported in Madagascar. We report the occurrence of an outbreak of gray patch tinea capitis due to Microsporum langeronii in a public primary school of Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar.

Methodology: Forty-two children were included, 27 (64%) of them presenting with tinea capitis and 32 (76%) with Tinea corporis. Patients were treated with griseofulvin 500 mg and Povidone-iodine 4% and followed up for four weeks.

Results: Twenty-five (93%) of the 27 children with tinea capitis presented a gray patch as the main clinical feature. All these cases were fluorescent under Wood's UV light and positive in cultures for M. langeronii. All 27 children reported a contact with infected classmates, and 19 (70%) reported to have infected brothers and sisters at home. After four weeks of treatment, all patients recovered.

Conclusion: Appropriate treatment and improved hygienic practices reduced the occurrence of tinea in the studied school and no more cases of tinea capitis or corporis occurred after the outbreak.

Author Biographies

Jean-François Carod, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Pharmacist, Clinical Biologist

Head of the Clinical Biology Center

Head of the Parasitology Laboratory

Mahery Ratsitorahina, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Medical Doctor

Epidemiologist

Deputy Head of the Epidemiology Unit

Hasina Raherimandimby, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Medical Doctor

Resident of the Clinical Biology Center

Virginie Hincky Vitrat, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Medical Doctor

Trainee in the Epidemiology Unit

Vololomboahangy Ravaolimalala Andrianaja, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Antananarivo 101, Madagascar

Medical Doctor

Head of Schistosomiasis Laboratory

Deputy Director of the Institut Pasteur de Madagscar

Nelly Contet-Audonneau, Laboratoire de mycologie, hôpital Fournier, CHU de Nancy, 36, quai de la Bataille, 54035 Nancy cedex, France

Medical Doctor

Head of Mycology Unit

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Published

2011-07-06

How to Cite

1.
Carod J-F, Ratsitorahina M, Raherimandimby H, Hincky Vitrat V, Ravaolimalala Andrianaja V, Contet-Audonneau N (2011) Outbreak of Tinea capitis and corporis in a primary school in Antananarivo, Madagascar. J Infect Dev Ctries 5:732–736. doi: 10.3855/jidc.1944

Issue

Section

Brief Original Articles