A Mycologic Study from the Fourth Toe Web of the High School Studyent

Koo, Ja Kyeong; Lee, Jeung Hoon; Park, Jang Kyu

Abstract

Exogenoue exposurea to pathogenic fungi have been suggested as causes of acute atta.eks of tinea pedis. Psthogenic fungi is rarely present on the skin aurfaces without cauaing definite and characteristic reactions. However, it was suspected by eome observers that pathogenic fungi might be more or liesa normal inhabitant of the human skin. Alterations in host susceptibility and loss, of local immunity are more to blame than new exposure to exogenous micro-ganisms. To determine this point, fungal culture was done from the fourth toe web of 824 high school students. The results of the study were summarized as follows,' l. Among 824 cases, 780 cases(94.7%) had grossly normal appearing toe web and 44 cases(5,3%) were suspected superficial fungal infection. 2. Positive rate of KOH examination was 4.6%(36,'780) in normal toe web and 45.4%(20/44) in dermatophytic lesion. 3, The positive rate of fungal culture from normal and infected toe web are 7.9 %(62/780) a.nd 40.9%(18/44), respectively. In the normal toe web, Trichophyton rubrum(66.1%), T, entagrophytea(include T. interdigitaLe) and Epidermophyton, floccosum(3.2%) were isolated. In the dermatophytic lesion, T. rubrurn(88.8%) and T. me ntagrophytes(11.2% ) w ere isolated. Although toe webs do not present clinical symptoms and signs, pathogenic fungi as a normal inhabitant can be isolated from clinically normal toe webs. Some of these cases, therefore, will develope to tinea pedis in time.