Dermatophytic Infections among the Patients Attending Di Skin Hospital and Research Center at Maharajgunj Kathmandu.

BACKGROUND

Dermatophytosis is the common and most significant superficial fungal infections because of their widespread involvement among the people all over the world. The clinical presentation, though very typical of ringworm infection, is often confused with other skin disorders, making laboratory diagnosis and confirmation necessary. The aim of this research is to study different clinical variants of dermatophytosis and its associated risk factor among the patients attending Di Skin Hospital and Research Center.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Total of 110 samples collected from suspected cases of dermatophytosis were studied among the patients attending DI Skin Hospital and Research Center at Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal. Skin, hair and nail specimens taken from the patients were processed by direct microscopy and culture using a standard protocol. Macroscopic appearance and microscopic morphology of micro and macroconidia were studied for proper identification of dermatophytes. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows.

RESULTS

Dermatophytosis was more common in the age group of 21-30 (29.1%) years and was more predominant among male population with male to female ratio being 1.39:1. Among the total number of dermatophytosis cases only 52.72% showed fungal elements in KOH preparation and only 43.63% were culture positive. Most common clinical type was tinea corporis (29.1%) followed by tinea cruris (18.2%). Among the total isolates T. rubrum was most common (58.33%) followed by T. mentagrophytes (20.83%), other Trichophyton spp (12.5%) and Microsporum gypseum (8.33%). Most of the positive cases used to take bath, change their dresses and innerwear only once a week. Similarly, Sweating nature could be the possible cause for dermatophytic infection (P=0.006 at CI=95%) and also there was a significant relation between the sharing habit of dress materials and positive cases (P=0.033 at CI=95%). Among the total cases, most of the positive cases did not have any knowledge about fungal infection.Study concluded that more the knowledge of fungal infection less the chance of fungal infection (P=0.003 at CI=95%).

CONCLUSIONS

Tinea corporis was the commonest clinical pattern and overall predominance in the study was male with 21-30 being most affected age group. T. rubrum forms the commonest aetiological agent of dermatophytosis. Possible cause of dermatophytic infection was due to poor hygienic status and lack of knowledge on fungal infection and its preventive measures.