To find out the demographic distribution and species of
dermatophytes causing
tinea corporis in Karachi,
Pakistan.
Design:
Prospective study. Place And Duration This study was conducted in the Department of
Microbiology, Basic Medical
Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from September 2000 to August, 2001. Subjects and Ninety-nine
patients having
skin infections [clinically suspected cases of
tinea corporis] were examined. The
skin scraping were taken from active border of the lesions and subjected to direct
microscopy and
culture on mycobiotic
agar [Difco] for isolation of
dermatophytes. Various special media were used for species identification.
Tinea corporis was generally predominantly seen in
adult [74.8%] than in
adolescent [14%] and
children [11.1%]. Out of 99 cases 53 [53.5%] were
males and 46 [46.5%] were
females.
Tinea corporis was relatively more common in
males. 48
strains were recovered out of these 29 [60.4%]
strains of
Trichophyton rubrum, 09 [18.7%]
strains of
Epidermophyton [floccosum], 08
strains of
Trichophyton violaecum and two
strains of
Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Tinea corporis was relatively more common in
males.
Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated
dermatophytes. Species identification is necessary to prevent spread of
infection and choice of appropriate
antifungal agent