Mycopathologia 157: 379–382, 2004. © 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. 379 Frequency and risk factors of dermatophytosis in students living in rural areas in Eski¸ sehir, Turkey Selma Metintas 1 , Nuri Kiraz 2 , Didem Arslantas 1 , Yurdanur Akgun 2 , Cemalettin Kalyoncu 1 , Abdurrahman Kiremitçi 2 & Alaettin Unsal 1 1 Departments of Public Health; 2 Microbiology, Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Eski¸ sehir, Turkey Received 18 March 2003; accepted in final form 8 September 2003 Abstract Our study included 2384 students from five villages around Eski¸ sehir, Turkey. We asked every student for their personal identification and also for their sanitation in order to get an idea about dermatophytosis. Samples taken from suspicious lesion were collected and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar slants. For identification of fungi which were grown, macroscopic appearance of colonies, microscopic examination and biochemical tests were used. We found suspicious lesions in 245 (10.3%) and diagnosed dermatophytosis in 86 (3.6%) of the students. The dermatophyte species were Trichophyton rubrum 37 (43%) at first, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 17 (19.8%), Microsporum canis 11 (12.8%), Microsporum gypseum 8(9.3%), Epidermophyton floccosum 6 (7%), Trichophyton verrucosum 6 (7%) and Trichophyton violaceum 1 (1.1%). Tinea pedis (59.3%) was the most frequent clinic form of dermatophytosis, followed by tinea corporis (22.1%), tinea capitis (9.3%), tinea manum (7.0%) and tinea unguium (2.3%). Older age, male gender, poor hygiene, living in dormitory, low level mother education, history of dermatophytosis within family and sanitary conditions were computed as independently variables as- sociated with dermatophytosis infection. For prevention and control of dermatophyte infection in children living rural areas, field studies should be done and sanitary conditions should be improved. Key words: dermatophytosis, prevalence, risk factors, students, Turkey Introduction The term dermatophytosis is used to describe infec- tions of the skin, hair and nails due to a group of related filamentous fungi, dermatophyte [1]. There are three genera of dermatophytes, Trichophyton, Mi- crosporum and Epidermophyton. Members of all three groups can cause human infection but their different natural reservoirs have important epidemiological im- plications in relation to the acquisition, site and spread of human infections [2]. Dermatophyte infections of humans and animals are recognized as a major health problem in many parts of the world. The distribution of dermatophytes and etiological agents varies with geo- graphic location; some species are widely distributed whereas others are geographically restricted. The reas- ons for this increase in the prevalence of skin mycoses possibly may be found in the public’s socio-economic status, poor hygiene and sanitary conditions [3]. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dermatophyte infection in children living in rural areas of Turkey, as well as to determine risk factors for the infection. Materials and methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the rural region of Eskisehir, in central Turkey. The district con- sists of 81 villages and five towns in which a total of 60,497 residents have been living; of whom 2501 are students in high schools. Overall 2384 (95.3%) stu- dents (945 (39.6%) female and 1439 (60.4%) male; age range 11–19 years) were included in the study. This survey was using a two-step approach. In stage one, the screening questionnaire consisting of questions soliciting information concerning the stu- dents sociodemographic back-ground and the hygiene