Fungal infection as a cause of skin disease in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia: prevailing fungi and pattern of infection.

A total of 4,294 clinically suspected cases of dermatomycoses belonging to 26 different nationalities were examined between April 1984 and April 1988. Fungi were demonstrated in routine potassium hydroxide/dimethyl sulfoxide mount in 3,814 cases (88.8%) and the etiology was determined by culture in 2,458 cases (57.2%). Tinea versicolor was the predominant fungal infection (30.9% of all infections). Onychomycosis and paronychia ranked second in prevalence (16.8%). Candidal onychomycosis was the most common type of infection. Scalp ringworm among children ranked third (15.3%), Microsporum canis was the main etiologic agent. Tinea pedis and tinea manuum ranked fourth in prevalence (13.2%). Tinea corporis represented 10.7% of infections and M. canis was the main agent. Tinea cruris accounted for 8.7% of infections and Epidermophyton floccosum was the most common agent. Cutaneous candidosis constituted 4.3% of infections. White piedra was seen in 6 cases (0.16%). Yeasts were proved not to be unimportant as a cause of disease of skin and nail in our study.