Frequency of dermatophytosis in Karachi in relation to variation in climatic conditions

ABSTRACT

To find out the frequency of dermatophytosis in Karachi in relation to variation in climatic conditions. This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from September 2000 to August, 2001. Three hundreds seventy-three patients having skin, hair and nail infection [clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis] were examined. The skin scraping, hair plucking and nail clipping were taken and subjected to direct microscopy and culture on mycobiotic agar [Difco] for isolation of dermatophytes. The results indicated a strong correlation between dermatophytosis and certain climatic conditions. With the rise in temperature and humidity a corresponding rise in the frequency of dermatophytosis was recovered. The frequency increases in summer and decreases in winter. Most cases were recorded during May to August and then a gradual decline was observed. High temperature and humidity are the factors responsible for increase-frequency of dermatophytosis. There is strong correlation of dermatophytosis with variation in climatic conditions, the infection more frequent in hot and humid weather