A Clinical Study on Tinea Corporis / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tinea corporis includes all superficial dermatophyte infections of the skin other than those involving the scalp, beard, hands, feet, and groin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical features of tinea corporis. METHOD: Clinical findings of tinea corporis diagnosed at Boramae Medical Center in the last 10 years were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: For the 10-year study, a total of 422 patients were analyzed. Male-to-female ratio was 0.8:1, and patients were diagnosed most often in their twenties (26.5%). Average duration of the lesions before visiting our clinic was 4.9 months. Skin lesions appeared most frequently in the summer (45.3%). Clinical appearance was most often annular (83.9%), followed by eczematous annular (13.7%) and plaque type (2.4%). Average number of lesions was 4. Lesions over 5 cm in longest diameter accounted for 47.2%; however, when occurring in the face they were significantly less frequent (4.9%). Lesions developed in unexposed areas in 60.4%, most commonly on the chest, followed by back and buttock. In 60% of patients, concurrent dermatophytosis of other regions were present, most commonly tinea pedis (58%), followed by tinea unguium (31.2%). History of prior contact with animal was in 12.3% of total but significantly higher in facial lesions (54.7%). CONCLUSION: Dermatologists should always examine the feet and toenails of patients with suspected tinea corporis since over half of these patients harbor fungal infection in the feet.