Scalp Colonization by Trichophyton tonsurans in an Urban Pediatric Clinic

Abstract

Random culturing of the scalp in 200 healthy children in a large metropolitan children's hospital revealed that eight (4%) of the patients had cultures that were positive for Trichophyton tonsurans variety sulfureum. Infections were not clinically apparent and were asymptomatic. All of the patients with positive cultures were black and six braided their hair. Trichophyton tonsurans appears to exist in an asymptomatic state in this well-defined population of children.