Ringworm of the scalp in children.

Scalp scrapings were collected from 651 children in the Cape Peninsula and along the Western Cape coast to determine which dermatophytic fungi occur in these areas. Fungi were isolated from 61% of specimens, by far the commonest being Trichophyton violaceum. Only half of these specimens showed fungal elements on direct microscopy. Among patients with scaly scalp lessons of varying severity the isolation rate was 64%, but dermatophytic fungi were also isolated from 16% of 50 asymptomatic children. Carriers of fungi without obvious ringworm may play an important role in the spread of the disease.