Sporotrichosis in India: first authentic case report from the north-western region and a critical literature review.

The first case of sporotrichosis from north-western region is reported along with a critical review of the work done on this disease in India. The patient, a 55-year-old housewife with multiple lymphocutaneous lesions on her left arm, had never travelled to north-eastern India where sporotrichosis occurs endemically. She was a resident of Ranikhet, District Nainital, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), situated about 235 km north-east of Delhi. The diagnosis was established by demonstration of Sporothrix schenckii through direct microscopy and culture of pus collected from multiple suppurative lesions, verification of the dimorphic character of the fungus in vitro and its pathogenicity to white mice. She was treated successfully with oral administration of potassium iodide for 6 weeks.