A Clinical and Mycological Study of Dermatophytoses in Chungcheongnam-do Province (2008~2012)

Oh, Sang Jin; Lee, Sung Yul; Lee, Jong Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The causative organisms and clinical characteristics of dermatophytoses are altered by various factors such as social environmental change and geographic distribution.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research is to investigate the changes and recent clinical and mycological features of dermatophytoses in the Chungcheongnam-do province.
METHODS
We performed clinical and mycological studies on 387 cases of dermatophytoses among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital for 5 years, from January 2008 to December 2012.
RESULTS
1. The age distribution showed patients in their 50s to be the most common. The ratio of male to female was 1.07:1. 2. The seasonal prevalence of dermatophytoses was highest in the summer, but the incidence of tinea capitis was highest in the winter season. 3. The positive rate of KOH examination was 95.1% and that of culture was 58.9%. 4. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was most prevalent dermatophyte (71.1%), followed by Microsporum(M.) canis (9.2%), T. mentagrophytes (7.9%).
CONCLUSION
Compared with previous study, the incidence of T. rubrum infection is rising and in recent years the prevalence of M. canis infection has markedly increased. The rest of causative organisms' proportion is increasing and diversification is observed.