Tinea capitis is a common infection of the scalp hair caused by dermatophyte fungi and occurs predominately in children. It is also known as herpes tonsurans, ringworms of the hair or scalp ringworm. Tinea capitis is the most common dermatophytosis in children. Nowadays it is considered as one of the most common causes of hair loss among children. The aim of this study is to identify the frequency of Tinea capitis and its clinical manifestations among children in Khartoum Dermatological Hospital. That will help control of Tinea capitis infection which is not impossible with current understanding of the immunology, host susceptibility, advances of new methods of diagnosis, treatment and by training of doctors and other health workers. The study was conducted in Khartoum Dermatology and Venereology Teaching Hospital outpatient clinics in 2019 (January – September). Khartoum Dermatology and Venereology Hospital is a referential hospital in Sudan. The type of study was descriptive, retrospective. The number of patients was 117. They were interviewed and answered the questionnaire prepared. The type of study was quantitative and qualitative. Males were 102 and females were 15. According to age distribution; 19 patients (16.2%) were less than 5 years, 53 (45.3%) were 5 – 10 years, 40 (34.2%) were 10 – 15 years, 5 (4.3%) were 15 – 18 years. In relation to history of contact; patients had history of contact were 97 (82.9%) and those had no history of contact were 20 (17.1 %). The clinical picture of the disease was varied; those had one erythematous plaques were 3 (2.6%), with pale scaly papule were 4 (3.4%), with numerous papules in a typical ring form were 8 (6.8 %), with scaling and patchy hair loss were 84 (71.8%), with patch of alopecia were 2 (1.7%), with follicles discharge pus were 16(13.7%). It was found that patients had scalp infection were 106 (90.6%), eyelashes infection were 6 (5.1%) and eyebrows infection were 5 (4.3%) patients. Of those who had scalp manifestation; 102 (87.2%) had hair loss while the other 4 (3.4%) had no hair loss. Tinea capitis prevalence in the community is high. It is important to raise community awareness about Tinea capitis presentation and mode of transmission. Health education, training of doctors and other health workers, a clear plan for diagnosis, treatment, and referring patients to referral hospital are important for reducing infection in the community.
 

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