[Superficial mycoses in the city of Valparaiso, Chile: period 2007-2009].

INTRODUCTION

Superficial mycoses are infections of the keratinous tissue caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the species of dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi that cause superficial mycosis and analyze their differences by sex, age and location of the lesion, in patients from the region of Valparaiso, during 2007-2009.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

1004 patients diagnosed with superficial mycoses were studied. All ages and both genera were included. The study was done using direct microscopic examination with 20% KOH and culture of the lesions. Fungi identification was mainly morphophysiological.

RESULTS

Of the 1004 patients studied, 609 were women and 87.7% was 15 years old or younger. Toenail onychomycosis was the most frequent lesion (58.1%), followed by tinea pedis and interdigitalis (16.3%). In patients younger than 8 years old, tinea capitis by Microsporum canis was the most common mycoses. Among dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum (78.9%) predominated in most locations, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (14.9%) and M. canis (5.4%). Candida spp. (95.4%) prevailed among the yeasts causing onychomycosis. There were 27 cases of toenail onychomycosis caused by environmental fungi, mainly Fusarium.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are consistent with national and international data, where T. rubrum is the predominant agent of dermatomycoses. We report the emergency of agents not described in Chile or Latin America in these infections.