Clinico-Mycological Characteristics Of Dermatophytosis- A Comparative Study Of The Past And The Present

Abstract

Background: Incidence and prevalence of dermatophytosis have increased recently. The clinico-mycological characteristics of dermatophytosis in the past and present were compared to determine the difference, if any, that can explain the present scenario. Material and Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study design with retrospective data comparison was done. The clinico-mycological data of 425 patients in 2019 was compared to 124 patients in 2011 with a Chi-square statistic. Result: Significant differences were observed in the following socio-demographic and disease characteristics in the present compared to the past: female gender (57.9% vs.33.9%, P-0.000002), chronicity (29.4% vs. 16.1%, P-0.003), sharing of clothes (35.3% vs. 20.5%, P-0.0014), co-morbidity of atopy (22.6% vs. 6.5%, P-0.00005), prior use of topical antifungals (64.5% vs. 30.7%, P <0.0001), prior use of systemic antifungals (43.1% vs. 13.7%, P <0.0001), prior use of topical steroids (24.7% vs. 12.1%, P-0.0028), and infection in multiple sites (25.2% vs. 11.3%, P-0.001). T.mentagrophytes was the most common isolate in the present compared to the past (73.6% vs. 32.8%, P-0.0035). Other isolates were T.rubrum (13.2%) and M.gypseum(13.2%) in 2019 and T.rubrum (53.1%), M. gypseum(9.4%), T. schoenleinii (1.6%) and E. floccosum (3.1%) in 2011. Conclusion: T. mentagrophytes has emerged as the dominant species. Irrational use of topical and systemic antifungals and steroids has increased considerably. Frequent training of general practitioners regarding appropriate management and educating patients about avoidance of tight-fitting clothing, personal hygiene, and avoidance of over the counter medications, and adherence to treatment schedule can decrease the disease burden to some extent. [Anish K.A Natl J Integr Res Med, 2021; 12(5): 14-20]