Mohammad T. Hedayati - Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Firoozeh Kermani - Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Javad Javidnia - Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Mahmood Moosazadeh - Health Science Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Mohsen Nosratabadi - Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Maryam Salimi - Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
sabrieh asadi - Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Elham Mosayebi - Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Zohreh Hajheydari - Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sari Bu Ali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Masoud Golpour - Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sari Bu Ali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Ghasem Rahmatpour Rokni - Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sari Bu Ali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Armaghan Kazemi Nejad - Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Sari Bu Ali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Tahereh Shokohi - Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Felix Bongomin - Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Background and purpose: Among different clinical entities of dermatophytosis, tinea capitis (TC) is considered a major public health challenge in the world, especially in regions with poor health and low income. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a retrospective analysis of the patients suspected of TC who were referred to the medical mycology laboratory of Mazandaran, a northern province of Iran.Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients suspected of TC who were referred to the medical mycology laboratory from July ۲۰۰۹ to April ۲۰۲۲. Hair roots and skin scrapings were collected from the participants. The laboratory diagnosis was confirmed by direct microscopic examination and culture. Finally, ۹۲۱ out of ۱۱۰۹۵ (۸.۳%) patients were suspected of TC.Results: Based on the findings, TC was confirmed in ۲۰۹ out of ۹۲۱ patients (۲۲.۷%). In terms of gender, ۲۰۹ TC patients (۷۵.۱%) were male. Moreover, the male to female ratio of TC patients was ۱:۳.۰. Trichophyton tonsurans (۱۴۶/۱۷۴, ۸۳.۹۱%) was the most etiological agent,followed by T. mentagrophytes (۱۳/۱۷۴, ۷.۴۷%), T. violaceum (۹/۱۷۴, ۵.۱۷%), Microsporum canis (۳/۱۷۴, ۱.۷۱%), T. verrucosum (۲/۱۷۴, ۱.۱۵%) and T. rubrum (۱/۱۷۴, ۰.۵۷%). Besides, endothrix (۷۷.۰%) was the most prevalent type of hair invasion.Conclusion: The results revealed the predominance of T. tonsurans, as a causative agent of TC. Despite the prevalence of TC, the absence of appropriate consideration highlights that it is a neglected complication among children.

Iran, Prevalence, Tinea capitis, Trichophyton tonsurans