Korean J Med Mycol.
2006 Sep;11(3):132-140.
Prevalence of Tinea Pedis and Onychomycosis in the Aged
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. jschoi@med.yu.ac.kr
Abstract
-
BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis and onychomycosis is a common disease and the proportion of that in the aged has been significantly increased. Although there have been many reports about tinea pedis and onychomycosis, very few studies about that in the aged have yet been conducted.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical features of tinea pedis and onychomycosis in the aged.
METHODS
One hundred twenty-six persons over 65 years old who visited the Daegu public aged welfare center (57 persons), Seongju public health center (38 persons) and hospitalized Yeungnam University Yeongcheon hospital (31 persons) from September 20, 2005 to October 7, 2005 were examined clinically and evaluated tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Their clinical lesions were confirmed by KOH preparation and fungal culture. RESULT: Among 126 examined, 62 persons (49.2%) had tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis. Prevalence of the tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis of male (53.2%) was higher than that of female (38.2%). There was no difference in the prevalence between the living area or age. Most common clinical type of tinea pedis was hyperkeratotic type (n=21/66.7%). All patients with onychomycosis were distal subungual onychomycosis. In this study common underlying disease was hypertension (22.6%), diabetes mellitus (8.1%) and cerebrovascular accident (8.1%), however, there was no correlation between underlying diseases and the prevalence of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis. Among 87 persons, 21 strains of dermatophytes were isolated. They were 19 strains of Trichophyton(T.) rubrum, 2 strains of T. mentagrophytes. The rate of previous treatment for this problem was 32.6%.
CONCLUSIONS
All this finding suggest that the prevalence of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis in the aged was high and they did not know about the disease. Tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis in the aged could become a source of infection and complication. Therefore, it is necessary to educate them and support to treat the disease effectively. Future studies including a large number of examinee and correlation of other diseases will be needed.
