الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 85 |  |  |
| | | from | 85 | | |
Abstract
Superficial mycoses comprise a world de public health problem, and they include mainly dermatophytoses, cutaneous candidosis as well as pityriasis versicolor. There is great variability regarding the prevalence and causative fungal species in different populations, and this might be attributed to the difference in climatic conditions, screening facilities, medical care, and presence of carrier state as well as other personal factors such as the age, sex, occupation, immunity, overcrowding and personal hygiene. Such conditions usually prevail in places such as schools and orphanages.
The present work aimed at:
•Determination of the distribution of different superficial fungal infections and identification of the responsible organisms, among children in some Alexandrian orphanages.
Determination of the carrier state of superficial fungi among the studied children.
Correlation between risk factors of fungal infections and the rate of superficial infections in different orphanages.
Comparing the diagnostic performance of different mycological stains (Congo red, Calcofluor) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) for direct microscopy.
A cross sectional study was carried out in 8 governmental orphanage dormitories and boarding nurseries in Alexandria Governorate over a period of 6 months (from March until September 2006). The sample orphanages were selected randomly, representing 25% of all orphanages in Alexandria. All children in these orphanages were included in the study. They were amounted to 386 children, in addition to their 33 contacts (attendants, cooks, workers and foster mothers when present). A pre-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. It included basic demographic data as name - age- sex- date of admission – previous residence- present and past medical history such as diseases and surgeries, as well as data about personal habits (bathing frequency and sharing of clothes& personal belongings). The questionnaire also included data about environment as the number of bedrooms and the availability of health services.
Children were screened for superficial mycoses and samples were collected in the following manner:
I)Asymptomatic children were sampled according to their age:
a) Pre-pubertal children were screened using a sterile toothbrush that was used to collect hair and scalp scales.
b) Post-pubertal children were screened by swabbing the groin area as well as the toe-web space.
II) Complaining children: Samples were collected according to the site of the lesion.
Contacts were also screened by taking nail as well as toe-web swabs, and if cases were present, samples were collected according to the affected site.