Clinical and Mycological Studies on Dermatomycosis (2001-2010)

Lee, Yong Woo; Yun, Sook Jung; Lee, Jee Bum; Kim, Seong Jin; Lee, Seung Chul; Won, Young Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The prevalence and clinical characteristics of dermatomycosis are not static but change under the influence of various forces such as geographic factor, social environment and development in prophylaxis and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the present status of dermatomycosis and changes on the prevalence, sex, age distribution and causative organisms.
METHODS
We performed clinical and mycological studies on 7,785 cases of dermatomycosis among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Chonnam University Hospital for 10 years, from January 2001 to December 2010.
RESULTS
The incidence of dermatomycosis was 12.5% of outpatients and show the highest incidence over 7th decades (24.2%). The incidence of tinea pedis (24.1%) was the highest, followed by onychomycosis (18.1%). Coexisting fungal infections were found 693 (9.2%) and the cases of tinea pedis with onychomycosis were the most common. The positive rate of KOH examination was 49.7% and the positive rate of culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media was 36.5%. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common causative organism of dermatomycosis (51.1%), followed by Candida species (33.2%).
CONCLUSIONS
Consideration of the changes between current and past epidemiologic, clinical and mycological features in the cutaneous fungal infections are important to investigational efforts, diagnosis, and treatment.