Tinea capitis in Northwestern Europe 1963-1993: etiologic agents and their changing prevalence

Abstract

Background: Although tinea capitis is endemic in many countries, its prevalence in Northwestern Europe (Belgium and the Netherlands) has not been established.

Materials and methods: Scales, pus, and hair were examined from 435 cases of tinea capitis for etiologic agents and their relative percentages calculated for 5-year period between 1963 and 1992.

Results: There was a change in organisms associated with tinea capitis in the Netherlands from Trichophyton schoenleinii to Trichophyton violaceum. Increased immigration from the Mediterranean is held partly responsible for the increased prevalence of T. violaceum infections. Infection with zoophilic dermatophytes, such as T. canis, has also become more frequent in the Netherlands.

Conclusions: The zoophilic dermatophytes have supplanted the anthropophilic dermatophytes as the cause of tinea capitis in the Netherlands.