Clinico-Mycological Characteristics Of Dermatophytosis- A Comparative Study Of The Past And The Present

ABSTRACT

Background:Incidence and prevalence of dermatophytosis have increased recently. The clinico-mycological characteristics of dermatophytosis in the past and present were compared to determine the difference, if any, that canexplain the present scenario.Material and Methods:Hospital-based cross-sectional study design with retrospective data comparison was done. The clinico-mycological data of 425 patients in 2019 was compared to 124 patients in 2011 with a Chi-square statistic. Result:Significant differences were observed in the following socio-demographic and disease characteristics in the present compared to the past female gender (57.9% vs.33.9%, P-0.000002), chronicity (29.4% vs. 16.1%, P-0.003), sharing of clothes (35.3% vs. 20.5%, P-0.0014), co-morbidity of atopy (22.6% vs. 6.5%, P-0.00005), prior use of topical antifungals (64.5% vs. 30.7%, P <0.0001), prior use of systemic antifungals (43.1% vs. 13.7%, P <0.0001), prior use of topical steroids (24.7% vs. 12.1%, P-0.0028), and infection in multiple sites (25.2% vs. 11.3%, P-0.001). T.mentagrophyteswas the most common isolate in the present compared to the past (73.6% vs. 32.8%, P-0.0035). Other isolates were T.rubrum(13.2%) and M.gypseum(13.2%) in 2019 and T.rubrum(53.1%), M. gypseum(9.4%),T. schoenleinii(1.6%) and E. floccosum(3.1%) in 2011.Conclusion:T. mentagrophyteshas emerged as thedominant species. Irrational use of topical and systemic antifungals and steroids has increased considerably.Frequent training of general practitionersregarding appropriate management andeducating patients about avoidance of tight-fitting clothing, personal hygiene, and avoidance of over the counter medications, and adherence to treatment schedule can decrease the disease burden to some extent.