A recent systematic review has found that the prevalence of tinea pedis in children varies greatly, with estimates ranging from as low as 0.03% to as high as 15.6%. The study, which examined multiple factors such as demographics and geography, also identified the most common causes of this fungal infection in children.
Study Overview
Researchers conducted a systematic review to understand the prevalence of tinea pedis in children aged 0 to 19 years. The study included data from 29 research articles, involving populations ranging from 321 to 8,122 children. These studies were conducted in various countries, including Spain, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, India, Colombia, and Tanzania. Notably, none of the studies were from the United States.
Methodology Details
The review aimed to gather data on the prevalence of tinea pedis by evaluating children’s age, gender, and diagnostic methods used. The average age of the children in the studies was 12.6 years, with boys comprising about 52.6% of the participants. Most of the studies were cross-sectional, focusing on schoolchildren.
To confirm the diagnosis of tinea pedis, the studies used a variety of methods, including clinical examinations, microscopy, and cultures. A significant 72.4% of the studies employed all three techniques for accurate mycological confirmation. The clinical examiners varied, with dermatologists performing 31% of the examinations, followed by other healthcare professionals such as nurses and non-dermatologist physicians.
Prevalence of Tinea Pedis
The findings revealed a wide range in the prevalence of tinea pedis among children, varying from 0.03% to 15.6%. The highest prevalence rates were observed in studies published after the year 2000. These results suggest that the occurrence of tinea pedis has been increasing in recent years.
Common Causative Agents
Dermatophytes were responsible for 96% of the tinea pedis infections in the children studied. Among the different types of dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum was the most common pathogen, accounting for 53% of infections. This was followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which was identified in 42% of the cases.
Geographic Variations
The prevalence of tinea pedis varied significantly across different regions, with the highest rates observed in equatorial areas. One example is a study conducted in Turkey, where the prevalence ranged from 0.27% to 15.6%, showing notable regional differences within the same country.
Conclusion
The study underscores that the prevalence of tinea pedis in children is not uniform and is influenced by several factors such as geographical location, demographic characteristics, and diagnostic practices. This highlights the importance of considering local factors when addressing the prevention and treatment of this common fungal infection in children.
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