Date: 2018-11-13

Dr Samuel Adefemi of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has warned against barbing children's hair with local barbers to avoid contacting infectious diseases like dermatophytes.

Adefemi stated this on Monday, in his paper presentation entitled: "Superficial fungal infection: prevalence and risks factors among primary school pupils in Ilorin".

He asserts that local barbing places present an increased risk in the study he conducted on the infection which can be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophytes mold.

The expert described dermatophytes as ringworms, which is a type of fungal infection of the skin.

Adefemi explained that it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash hair loss that may occur in the area affected.

He said that children are particularly susceptible to dermatophytes infections because of their poor personal hygiene and poor environmental sanitation.

Adefemi explained that those who patronise local barbers were significantly infected with dermatophytes, compared with those who barbed in the saloon or use their personal clippers.

"The local barbers normally use manual clippers for barbing and locally improvised knife blade for trimming the hairline.

"Where these instruments are not sterilized or improperly sterilized after each use, and particularly, after use on dermatophytic infected child, the infection may be passed on," he said.

The expert, however, said other risk factors to dermatophytes included malodorous smelling socks, excessive sweating, poor personal hygiene and keeping certain animal pets.

Adefemi called on parents to seek medical intervention when infected with dermatophytes. (NAN)