Prevalence and risk factors of superficial fungal infections among primary school pupils in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Annals of African Medical Research
Abstract
Superficial fungal infections are common in the tropics particularly
in the rural areas where children are predisposed. The
causative organisms include dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophyte
moulds. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of
superficial fungal infections among primary school pupils aged 5-16
years in Oke-Oyi, Kwara State. A cross-sectional survey was
carried out from April through July 2017 among 602 pupils aged
5-16 years in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin East Local Government Area of
Kwara State. Out of the 602 pupils screened during the study, 180
pupils were suspected clinically to have superficial fungal infection
and a total of 180 skin specimens were collected from the
pupils. The prevalence of clinically suspected fungal infection was
29.9% (180/602), dermatophytes accounted for 16.7% (30/180),
while non-dermatophyte moulds accounted for about half of the
isolates, 51.7% (93/180). Some of the factors that were significantly
associated with the risk of acquisition of dermatophytic infections
include age, past history of similar lesions, over-crowding,
normal sweat pattern and unkempt socks worn by the pupils
among others. This study has shown that superficial fungal infections
are common among pupils in Oke-Oyi in Ilorin East Local
Government Area of Kwara State and the risk factors include
among others, young age, past history of skin infections, overcrowding
and unkempt socks worn by pupils. Therefore sociodemographic
and behavioural factors influence the occurrence of
superficial fungal infections in the study area.
Description
Keywords
Superficial fungal infection, risk factors, pupils