Introduction and Aim. Fungal infections are common in children, particularly in the skin and oral cavity. Accurate identification of yeast pathogens is essential for effective management. This study aimed to isolate and characterize yeasts from children with clinical fungal infections using morphological and molecular approaches.

Material and Methods. Between October 2022 and August 2023, one hundred swabs were collected from infected sites. Isolates were purified and examined morphologically, then confirmed by molecular analysis. Sequences were deposited in the GenBank database (Japan) under accession numbers LC790886–LC79098.

Results. Ten yeast species were identified: Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, Nakaseomyces glabratus, Pichia kudriavzevii, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Clavispora lusitaniae, Magnusiomyces capitatus, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Trichosporon asahii. C. albicans was predominant (56%), followed by C. tropicalis (19%). Overall, Candida species accounted for 58% of isolates.

Conclusion. The findings confirm C. albicans as the leading cause of pediatric yeast infections. Combined morphological and genetic methods ensured accurate identification and contributed to understanding the epidemiology of childhood fungal infections.

Najwa Mohammed Jameel Ali Abo-Mejdad is a professor of fungal biotechnology and medical mycology at the University of Basrah, Iraq, with over 25 years of academic service. She holds a B.Sc. in biology, an M.Sc. in medical mycology, and a Ph.D. in fungal biotechnology. Her research focuses on yeast biotechnology, antifungal agents, and pathogenic fungi, with more than 50 published papers, several patents, and authored books. She has supervised postgraduate students, participated in numerous conferences, and received multiple international awards for innovation. She is also an editorial board member of several scientific journals.