ABSTRACT
Dermatophytosis is one of the most commonly encountered cutaneous fungal infections worldwide. The higher prevalence in tropical and subtropical areas is supposedly due to the hot and humid climatic condition. Other factors like personal hygiene and habits, prevalence of virulent species in the soil are also known to influence the infection. A high prevalence of dermatophytoses has been reported from India. Hence, this study was undertaken to identify, speciate and study the sensitivity pattern of dermatophytosis from clinical samples received at Basveshwar Teaching & General Hospital, Gulbarga. A total of two hundred clinically diagnosed randomly selected patients of dermatophytosis attending the out patient department of Dermatology and Venereology, Basveshwar Teaching & General Hospital & M.R. Medical College, Gulbarga were studied. Skin, nail and hair specimens taken from the patients were processed by potassium hydroxide preparation (KOH) for direct microscopy and culture. Dermatophytosis was more common in the age group of 21-30 years (36%) and in males (73%). Fungi was demonstrated in 130 cases by KOH and in 96 cases by culture; 78 cases were positive by both direct examination and culture. Tinea corporis was the commonest clinical type encountered (54.5%) followed by tinea cruris (25.5%). Tricophyton rubrum (46.87%) was the commonest aetiological agent in majority of clinical types followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (36.46%), Microsporum gypseum (4.16%), Trichophyton tonsurans (1.04%) , Epidemophyton floccosum (8.33%). Microsporum audouinii (2.08%) and Trichophyton violecium (1.04%). Dermatophyte infections are very common in our country where hot and humid climate along with poor hygienic conditions play an important role in the growth of these fungi. By and large, Trichophyton species forms the commonest etiological agent of dermatophytosis. Tinea rubrum was the commonest isolate in tinea corporis, tinea cruris and Onychomycosis. Microporium audouinii was isolated from 1 case of tinea capitis.