Epidemiology of Patients with Superficial Fungal Diseases and Their Family Members in Korea / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Superficial fungal disease is one of the most common human infectious diseases. A recent clinical survey reported that more than half of patients with superficial fungal diseases might be infected at home. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of the fungal infection between the patients and their family members. METHODS: Dermatologists of 71 general hospitals were involved and evaluated 7,323 patients and 1,037 their family members who were confirmed microscopically to have superficial fungal diseases. RESULTS: According to the survey results, 46.1% of the patients answered they might have been infected at home and 33.6% of the patients remembered there were other fungus-infected patients among their family members at the same time. The isolated organisms were Trichophyton rubrum (1686 cases, 80.9%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (269 cases, 12.9%), Candida albicans (112 cases, 5.4%), Microsporum canis (12 cases, 0.6%), Trichophyton tonsurans (3 cases, 0.1%), Epidermophyton floccosum (2 cases, 0.1%). On the basis of the fungus culture, it was proven that 85.4% of the patients and their family members had the same kind of microorganism. CONCLUSION: As a result, we could conclude that there is a high possibility of transmitting the fungal infection from one family member to another.

Efficacy and Safety of a 1-Week Itranconazole 400 mg/day Regimen for Hyperkeratotic TineaPedis/Manus: Open Label Multicenter Study / 대한의진균학회지

No abstract available.

Achilles Project: An Epidemiology Survey to Assess the Seasonal Incidence of Foot Diseases and Patient Compliance / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Dermatological diseases affecting the feet, e.g. fungal infections and nail infections, are often not fully perceived as real medical problems even when they experience great discomfort, including pain. These misperception often prevents from seeking timely treatment, which can result in very severe conditions. This survey, so called "ACILLES PROJECT" was a "foot screening" project that would be focused on all parts of the body below the Achilles heel: foot, toe and toenails. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken for both medical doctors and patients to raise the awareness of foot diseases and additional insights into disease that could affect foot. And also, in seasonal variation, we tried to compare the epidemiological data and to look over the relationship of dermatophytosis in other parts with fungal infections in foot and to analyze the compliance and efficacy of antifungal agents in the treatment of patients who were diagnosed as dermatophytosis in their feet in the treatment of antifungal agents. METHODS: Achilles survey was conducted for one week from 7th July to 13th July, 1997 and 16th March to 17th April, 1998 co-worked by the Korean Society for Medical Mycology and Janssen Korea. In 1997, 19,298 patients, who visited dermatology and urology, and 353 investigators participated in this survey. And Achilles 98, in 1998, was composed of two parts, Unit I and Unit II. Unit I survey was a foot disease consult program and Unit II was a patient compliance survey 29,922 patients, 391 investigators and 16,383 patients, 350 investigators were involved in Unit I and Unit II respectively. RESULTS: Among total 29,922 patients who responded to the survey, 57.7% of them had more than one foot disease. There was no big difference comparing with the number (67%) in the survey of last summer. And it was observed that fungal infection was the most dominant disease (79.8%) regardless of seasons (83.7% in July, 1997). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of other foot diseases for each season (eczema 11.1%, corns 5.1%, warts 2.7%, psoriasis 2.1%). Oral antifungal agents were prescribed to the patients who were diagnosed as having fungal infections in their feet in order to survey drug compliance by filling out the patients diary. In compliance, only 24% of patients in itraconazole pulse therapy for 28 days and 16% of patients in itraconazole continuous therapy for 28 days compiled with their dosage guideline exactly. It is observed that the longer the duration of drug therapy is, the worse the patients compliance is. CONCLUSION: According to the epidemiological survey in 1997 and 1998, the prevalence of foot disease was not significantly different seasonally, and it was reported that the awareness of and the intention for the treatment of foot diseases were not high enough based on the compliance data of patients.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patient with Toenail Onychomycosis in Korea / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.

Enviromental Factors and Factors Associated with Feeding on Infant's Growth / 대한지역사회영양학회지

No abstract available.