Korean J Med Mycol.
2011 Jun;16(2):35-43.
Epidemiologic Survey of Onychomycosis in Koreans: Multicenter Study
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Korea. smg@dongguk.ac.kr
- 2Department of Dermatology, Busan National University of Medicine, Korea.
- 3Department of Dermatology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 4Department of Dermatology, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 5Department of Dermatology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea.
- 6Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 7Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 8Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 9Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.
- 10Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Korea.
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Although there have been many studies about onychomycosis, no study about Koreans in onychomycosis has been reported in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the onychomycosis in Koreans.
METHODS
From April, 2009, to March, 2010, 1,893 patients with onychomycosis who visited the department of dermatology at 10 university hospitals were evaluated.
RESULTS
Of 1,893 patients with onychomycosis, 93.8% were toenail onychomycosis, 2.2% fingernail onychomycosis, and 4.0% onychomycosis in both toenails and fingernails. Among the age groups, the incidence rate was highest over the sixties (35.6%). The ratio of male to female patients was 1.3:1. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (80.3%) was the most common clinical type of onychomycosis. Combination therapy of oral terbinafine or itraconazole and topical amorolfine nail lacquer was most common in the treatment of onychomycosis. The most common reasons for combination therapy in onychomycosis were higher cure rate due to synergistic activity (40.2%), followed by shortened treatment duration (12.8%), patient compliance (12.3%), and prevention of recurrence and reinfection (1.7%).
CONCLUSION
Because of the increase in onychomycosis, we suggest the need of standard treatment guidelines for Korean patients with onychomycosis.