Tinea: Incidence during Magh Mela

Background: Dermatophytosis refer to superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissues caused by keratinophilic dermatophytes. It is common in tropics and may present in epidemic proportions in areas with high rates of humidity.Methods: The retrospective study was carried out from January 2018 to February 2018 at Allahabad. Gram stain, KOH examination and culture were carried out in 300 cases.Results: Out of the 300 suspected cases authors identified, 263 cultures tested positive. The macroscopic examination of the scalp, skin and the nails of these 36 patients further revealed 50.20% Tinea corporis, 17.87% Tinea cruris, 11.02 % Tinea mannum, 8.74% Tinea pedis, 7.99% onychomycosis, 3.42% Tinea versicolor and 0.76% Tinea capitis. Culture examinations revealed 52.47% Trychophyton mentagrophyte, 34.98% Trichyopyton rubrum, 3.80% Trychophyton violaceum, 3.43% Malessesia, 2.28% Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, 1.52% Trichophyton verrucosum, 0.76% Microsporum canis and 0.76% Epidermophyton flucossum.Conclusions: The study concludes that in a short period of Magh Mela authors got a large number of skin patients because of their belief that the holiness Ganga water will cure skin problems by itself. Some of the patients were found infected from the beginning and some gather infections during their stay in the mela period. Therefore, a prompt recognition of skin lesions and the identification of these superficial fungi are required for judicious management.

Clinical and Mycological Studies on Superficial Fungal Infection / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Superficial fungal infections are common dermatologic disorders, and causative organisms include dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. The data about incidence of fungal pathogens can be used to predict increase in antifungal resistasnce and the adequacy of our current pharmacologic repertoire, and provide insight into future developments. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify epidemiologic features and the various organisms from clinically suspected cases of superficial fungal infection. METHODS: A total 11,656 specimens were collected from clinically suspected tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea capitis, tinea faciei, tinea manuum, tinea pedis, and finger and toe onychomycosis among patients of Dermatologic clinic of Asan Medical Center from 1998 through 2002. Clinical and culture studies on these cases were performed. However, attemps to establish the causative organism were not done. RESULTS: The incidence of clinically suspected cases was highest in the fifth to sixth decades. The ratio of male to female was 1.09:1. The incidence of toenail was highest, followed by feet, fingernail, trunk and extremeties, groin, scalp, and face. The positive rate of KOH examination was 49.2% and that of culture was 51.4%. Dermatophytes was the most commoly isolated fungal organisms except fingernail onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was the most prevalent fungal pathogen among them. High incidence of Candida species and Trichosporon species was documented in hands, feet and nails. CONCLUSION: Consideration of the current epidemiologic, clinical and mycologic features in the cutaneous fungal infections is of key importance to investigational efforts, diagnosis, and treatment.

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.