ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dermatophytosis is a common superficialmycosis associated with significant morbidity. Dermatophytosis which are recurrent and clinically unresponsive totherapy are showing an alarming increase in the last fewyears. These patients are a potential source of infection to theirfamily members and others closely associated with them. Ourstudy aimed to investigate the risk factors, clinical patternsand causative dermatophyte species in patients with chronic/recurrent dermatophytosis and patients with first episode oftypical tinea.Material And Methods: The enrolled patients werecategorized as group I consisting of 81 cases of chronic/recurrent dermatophytosis and group II consisting of 81 casesof first episode dermatophytosis. After detailed history andthorough clinical examination, wet-mount preparation fordirect microscopic examination was done along with fungalculture using Sabouraud’s dextrose agar.Results: In group I, T.mentagrophytes (51.7%) was themost common species isolated followed by T tonsurans(26.7%) and T rubrum(18.3%) while in group II, T tonsurans(43.3%) was the most common species isolated followed byT rubrum (28.4%)and T mentagrophytes(23.9%). Injudicioususe of topical steroids, non-compliance with treatment andpresence of dermatophyte infection among family memberswere the major risk factors with significant association withchronic/recurrent infections. Limitations: Lack of follow upof cases, antifungal susceptibility with clinical outcome andImmunological profile of the patients was not studied.Conclusion: Chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis areemerging as a major problem in dermatology practice.Injudicious use of topical steroid containing preparations,non-compliance, presence of intrafamilial infection are majorfactors for chronic and recurrent infections.