Epidemiological Survey on Tinea Capitis

ECMM survey on tinea capitis was started in 1997. ECMM convenor was Professor Roderick J. Hay (Queens University Belfast, UK).

The objective has been to provide information on the number of confirmed cases of tinea capitis for the year 1997 and if possible also for the year 1987. In addition respondents have been asked to identify the main source of their laboratory material, in particular whether they receive material for reference purposes or for routine diagnosis. The questionnaire aimed to gather information of a more general nature such as the usual treatments given in each country or area and whether particular ethnic or social groups are affected. The results of the first study were published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology 2001; 15(3): 229-233 (Hay RJ. et al — The European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Party on Tinea Capitis. Tinea capitis in Europe: new perspective on an old problem).

This showed that while Microsporum canis infection remains static in Europe and it is the dominant infection outside cities large numbers of endothrix infections are occurring in parts of the Europe particularly the UK and France. These latter infections are mainly due to Trichophyton tonsurans. This study may well have underestimated the wider spread of M.canis in Eastern Europe and Germany and these facts suggest that a further survey should be undertaken in the next 2-3 years in order to check for changes over the intervening interval.

List of publications:

• Hay RJ, Robles W, Midgley G, Moore MK on behalf of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Working Party on Tinea Capitis. Tinea capitis in Europe: new perspective on an old problem. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology 2001;15(3):229-33.