ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Scytalidium sp. is a filamentous (thread-like), saprobic fungus which affects soil and plants. It is currently considered a primary pathogen of the nail. The prevalence of nail infections caused by this fungus has been increasing in recent decades, although few published studies have been done on its epidemiology. OBJECTIVE: To study clinico-epidemiological data referring to patients with onychomycosis caused by Scytalidium spp. at a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical and epidemiological data of 30 patients with onychomycosis by Scytalidium sp. through an observational study of 1295 patients who underwent mycological nail tests over a period of 16 months. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (66.6%), with an average age of 56.7 years. 63.3% of them were nonwhite. 53.3% of the patients had attended elementary school and 36.6% referred a family income of 3 to 5 minimum wages. In 90% of cases, the toenails were affected, primarily with onycholysis (18 patients), and in 66% of the cases melanonychia was observed. In 43.3% of cases the disease had progressed for more than 5 years. 19 patients (63.3%) had undergone some medical treatment for their current condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that nail infection by Scytalidium sp. is chronic, affecting adults, particularly females (2:1). Clinically the disease resembles dermatophytosis. Prevalence of the disease in our sample was 4.86%, accounting for 26.92% of the positive tests.
Subject(s)
Ascomycota/isolation & purification , Foot Dermatoses/microbiology , Hand Dermatoses/microbiology , Hospitals, University/statistics & numerical data , Onychomycosis/microbiology , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , Female , Foot Dermatoses/diagnosis , Foot Dermatoses/epidemiology , Hand Dermatoses/diagnosis , Hand Dermatoses/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Onychomycosis/diagnosis , Onychomycosis/epidemiology , Prevalence , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTOS: O Scytalidium spp. é fungo filamentoso, saprobio do solo e plantas, considerado, atualmente, patógeno primário das unhas. A prevalência das infecções ungueais causadas por este fungo vem aumentando nas últimas décadas, embora ainda sejam poucos os trabalhos publicados sobre sua epidemiologia. OBJETIVO: Estudo clínico-epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de onicomicose por Scytalidium spp. em um hospital universitário do Rio de Janeiro. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados os dados clínico-epidemiológicos de 30 pacientes com onicomicose por Scytalidium spp. por meio do estudo observacional de 1.295 pacientes que se submeteram a exame micológico ungueal no período de 16 meses. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (66,6 por cento), a média de idade foi de 56,7 anos e 63,3 por cento eram não-brancos. O nível de escolaridade em 53,3 por cento dos pacientes era o ensino fundamental e a renda familiar predominante foi de 3 a 5 salários mínimos em 36,6 por cento dos entrevistados. Em 90 por cento dos casos, as unhas dos pododáctilos foram acometidas, sendo a alteração clínica mais comum a onicólise (18 pacientes) e em 66,6 por cento dos casos observou-se melanoníquia. O tempo de evolução da doença foi maior do que cinco anos em 43,3 por cento dos casos. Dezenove pacientes (63,3 por cento) já haviam realizado tratamento medicamentoso para o quadro atual. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados mostram que a infecção ungueal pelo Scytalidium spp. é crônica, mais comum no sexo feminino (2:1) e atinge indivíduos adultos. Clinicamente, é semelhante às dermatofitoses. A prevalência na amostra estudada foi de 4,86 por cento e correspondeu a 26,92 por cento dos exames positivos.
BACKGROUND: Scytalidium sp. is a filamentous (thread-like), saprobic fungus which affects soil and plants. It is currently considered a primary pathogen of the nail. The prevalence of nail infections caused by this fungus has been increasing in recent decades, although few published studies have been done on its epidemiology. OBJECTIVE: To study clinico-epidemiological data referring to patients with onychomycosis caused by Scytalidium spp. at a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical and epidemiological data of 30 patients with onychomycosis by Scytalidium sp. through an observational study of 1295 patients who underwent mycological nail tests over a period of 16 months. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (66.6 percent), with an average age of 56.7 years. 63.3 percent of them were nonwhite. 53.3 percent of the patients had attended elementary school and 36.6 percent referred a family income of 3 to 5 minimum wages. In 90 percent of cases, the toenails were affected, primarily with onycholysis (18 patients), and in 66 percent of the cases melanonychia was observed. In 43.3 percent of cases the disease had progressed for more than 5 years. 19 patients (63.3 percent) had undergone some medical treatment for their current condition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that nail infection by Scytalidium sp. is chronic, affecting adults, particularly females (2:1). Clinically the disease resembles dermatophytosis. Prevalence of the disease in our sample was 4.86 percent, accounting for 26.92 percent of the positive tests.