Dermatomycosis in Iraq

ABSTRACT

A group of 1048 patients of different ages and sexes selected from the Dermatology Department of the College of Medicine in Baghdad University and from the Central Laboratory-Mycology Division of the Ministry of Health, were investigated a systematic manner to isolate causative organisms, and to observe the influence of sex and age on these causative dermatomycoses. Candida albicans [24.04%], Trichophyton mentagrophytes [21.75%], Epidermophyton floccusum [15.64%] Microsporum canis [10.66%], Trichophyton tonsurans [4.96%], T rubrum [4.58%], Aspergillus niger [4.58%], Asp. fume gatus [4.58%], T. verrucosum [3.43%], Alternari [2.67%], T. Schonlieni [1 14%], and M. gypsium [0.76%], were the main isolated species with higher incidence in the skin of males, with male to female ratio of 7. 1/6. Tinea capitis was the predominating fungal disease [268 patients] and was more common in male children, Microsporum canis [31.34%] constitutes the dominant cause of Tinea capitis in the present work. Infection of the palms [T. manus] was the least diagnosed fungal infection in this study, affecting 68 persons only, if Alternari is neglected because its pathogenecity on the skin is stiff questioned. Trichopyton rubrum [17.74%] was the main isolated organism from this clinical entity. Concerning the nails, Tinea ungum was diagnosed more in female adults, and Candida albicans [38.46%], and Trichophyton mentagrophytes [32.69%] respectively were the main isolated organisms from the infected nails