DERMATOPHYTOSIS PROFILE IN A MADHUBANI MEDICAL COLLEGE AND TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

The current perception among dermatologists based on their experience in the outpatient’s clinics is that there is a huge change in clinical profile, both qualitative and quantitative, in the patients presenting with dermatophytosis. The prevalence of superficial mycotic infection is about 20%–25% of the world population, and dermatophytes is the leading microorganism responsible. Now there is a changing trend in the dermatophytic infections, the cases are presenting as chronic, not responding to usual treatment and also there are recurrent cases. Dermatophytosis is a contagious disease that spreads by direct or indirect contact. Until a few years ago, it had been a disease treated with ease using antifungal agents. In the recent past, there has been a failure of treatment with conventional therapy and emergence of an epidemic of recurrent and chronic dermatophytosis in India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study population included 112 patients who were clinically diagnosed as dematophytosis in the Outpatient department (OPD). Clinical history of all patients was taken. Demographic data such as age, sex, occupation, duration of disease, history of recurrence, habits and associated diseases was recorded. Culture were done in all suspected cases. Nail scrapings, clippings and sub-ungual debris were collected. RESULTS: In present study there were in all 112 patients among which maximum number of patients about 33% belonged to age group 11 to 20, majority of which were males 66.96% whereas 33.04% were females. 50% were culture positive among all patients and microscopy was positive in 58.93% of cases. Trichophytonrubrum species was isolated predominantly in 57.1% cases, Trichophytonmentagrophyte was found in 23.2% of patients followed by microscoporumgypsium isolated in 12.5% cases and E.floccosum was seen isolated in 7.1% among all clinical types. Percentage of tineacorporis, tineacapitis and tineacruris was 39.3%, 18.8% and 13.4% respectively. CONCLUSION: Dermatophytosis was found to be common in second decade of life and male were commonly affected. T. rubrum was most common isolate. The need of the hour is carry out multicentric large epidemiologic studies that can effectively establish the prevalence of fungal isolates and its antifungal resistance status.