Clinical and Mycological Studies on Dermatomycosis (1991-2000)

Moon, Hyun Ju; Lee, Jee Bum; Kim, Seong Jin; Lee, Seung Chul; Won, Young Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of dermatomycosis are changed under the various influences such as geographic factor, social environment and development of therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the present status of dermatomycosis and changes on the prevalence, sex and age distribution and causative organisms.
METHODS
We performed clinical and mycological studies on 7,568 cases of dermatomycosis among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Chonnam University Hospital for 10 years, from January 1991 to December 2000.
RESULTS
The incidence of dermatomycosis was 17.6% of out-patients and show the highest incidence in the fourth decades (18.8%). The ratio of male to female was 1.3:1, showing slightly male-predominant pattern. The incidence of Tinea pedis (28.9%) was the highest, followed by Onychomycosis (16.3%), Tinea corporis (11.2%), Tinea cruris (10.1%), Tinea versicolor (9.3%), Tinea manus (8.0%), Candidiasis (6.9%), Tinea faciale (5.5%) and Tinea capitis (3.2%). Coexisting fungal infections were found 846 patients (11.2%) and the cases of Tinea pedis with onychomycosis were the most common. The positive rate of KOH examination was 50.8% and the positive rate of culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media was 31.4%. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was the most common causative organism of dematomycosis (67.7%), followed by Candida albicans (13.0%), Microsporum(M.) canis (9.9%), T. mentagrophytes (7.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (0.5%), M. gypseum (0.5%), T. verrucosum (0.4%), T. tonsurans (0.3%) and T. violaceum (0.2%).
CONCLUSION
Compared with previous studies, the incidence of dermatomycosis increased, especially in females and was evenly distributed throughout all ages. The frequency of tinea pedis and tinea cruris decreased, but increased in onychomycosis.