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OBJECTIVES: Tinea capitis is one of the most common fungal infections in children around the world. However, the relationship between nutrition and the risk of infection, as well as treatment outcomes, has not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to explore the relationship between certain micronutrient deficiencies and the occurrence, severity, and treatment response of tinea capitis in children. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 280 children aged 2-12 years, with 140 confirmed cases of tinea capitis and 140 matched controls from three clinical locations. Detailed nutritional assessments included growth measurements and lab tests for zinc, iron, vitamin D, and protein-energy levels. The cases received standard antifungal treatment and were monitored for 6 months to evaluate treatment results. We employed multivariate analyses to identify relationships between nutritional factors and the occurrence, severity, and treatment outcomes of the disease. RESULTS: < 0.001). The relationship between treatment response and socioeconomic status was significantly influenced by nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of certain micronutrients, especially zinc and vitamin D, are key risk factors for children developing tinea capitis and not responding well to treatment. These findings suggest the potential benefits of integrated nutritional assessment and focused supplementation strategies, which should be evaluated in future interventional trials for pediatric tinea capitis, especially in resource-limited settings.
Seetan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.