A clinical prevalence of dermatophytic mycoses with an assessment of its clinical manifestations in a tertiary care hospital at Salem, South India.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytosis is very common among all age groups throughout the world. The incidence of the same is increasing on a steady basis. AIM: Estimating the clinical prevalence of dermatophytes mycoses among the patients visiting the outpatient unit and assessing its distinct manifestations. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted with the patients attending the Skin and STD outpatient unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Salem. A total of 3068 outpatients attended the department, of which 420 patients were diagnosed with dermatophytic mycoses and were taken for investigating the prevalence. RESULTS: A total of 420 dermatophytosis patients were included giving a percentage prevalence of 13.69%. There were more female patients (n = 213, 50.71%) than males (n = 207, 49.29%). The most common afflicted age group was 31-40 years (n = 99, 50.71%). Most of the patients had an atypical lesion called tinea incognita (n = 265, 63.09%) where there was no typical classic appearance of dermatophytic infections. The most prevalent clinical manifestation was tinea corporis (n = 73, 17.38%) followed by tinea cruris (n = 69, 16.43%). There were more newly diagnosed dermatophytosis cases (n = 326) than the previously diagnosed cases (n = 94). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that dermatophytic mycoses were more prevalent among females than males and among the age groups of 31-40 years. The most common clinical presentation was tinea incognita followed by tinea corporis.

A clinicoepidemiological study on tinea incognita with assessment of its treatment strategies and drug prescribing practices in a tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of tinea incognita (TI) appears to have increased over recent years owing to the easy availability of topical corticosteroids as over-the-counter preparations. AIM: Describing the various clinicoepidemiological aspects of TI and assessing the treatment strategies and prescribing practices followed for its management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with 170 patients in the department of Skin and STD of a tertiary care hospital at Salem from Jan 2022 to June 2022. The various sociodemographic information was obtained by interviewing the patients and a detailed dermatological examination was performed by the dermatologists to describe the morphology of lesions, and sites involved. RESULTS: The results were statistically analysed and expressed in the form of percentages. Most of the patients were in the age group of 41-50 years. The majority of patients were illiterate, unskilled workers, married, belonging to the lower middle class, from rural localities, and with positive family histories. Most of the patients were suffering from TI for more than 1 year. The commonly used treatment modality was combinational therapy which comprises oral and topical antifungals and antihistaminic drugs. The commonly prescribed antifungal was itraconazole. CONCLUSION: This study emphasises the need to spread awareness among the pharmacist and the community regarding the adverse consequences of practicing self-medication with topical corticosteroids.