BACKGROUND: The distribution of dermatophyte species varies according to time and place, and shows the social and economical conditions of the population. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the dermatophyte species in relation to the sex, age and race of patients with Tinea capitis in Paraiba state, Brazil. A comparison was established with disease data from the most affluent regions of Brazil. METHOD: We studied the mycological examinations and clinical variants of 82 patients with Tinea capitis in João Pessoa, Paraiba state. RESULTS: The frequency of Tinea capitis corresponded to 64.6% of clinical suspicion. T. Rubrum was the most frequently isolated dermatophyte (37.7%), followed by T. Tonsurans (28.3%), M. Canis (24.5%), T. Verrucosum (7.5%) and T. Mentagrophytes (1.9%). As for sex, no predilection was found. The highest incidence was in the 0 to 10-year-old age group. 71.7% of the patients were Caucasian. CONCLUSION: Comparing our results with previous publications from the Southeast region, the authors highlight the differences arising from social and economical variants in the disease epidemiology.
epidemilogy; tinea capitis
