Clinico-Mycological Study of Dermatophytosis in and around Kakinada

Background: Dermatophytosis is a clinical condition caused by a fungal infection of the skin in humans and domesticated animals. Currently up to 20% of the population may be infected by one of the dermatophytes. Objective: To isolate and identify the fungal agents from clinical samples of dermatophytosis patients in and around kakinada. Materials and Methods: Clinical samples from 150 patients were subjected to potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination and culture. Causative organisms are identified macroscopically and microscopically. Statistical analysis was done by chi square test. Results: Out of 150 samples, 120 shown KOH positive and 66/120 (55%) samples were culture positive. Of these isolation rate of dermatophytes was 70/120 (58.3%) among these, 66 were Trichophyton species, 3 were Microsporum species, 1 was Epidermophyton floccosum. T. rubrum was the major isolate about 35(29.1%) strains. The male to female ratio of the positive cases was recorded as 11:3. The most effected age group was 21-30years (40%) followed by 31-40 years (28.6%). Conclusion: It may concluded from the present study that Tinea corporis is more frequently encountered condition followed by Tinea cruris. T.rubrum was implicated as major predominating species followed by T.mentagrophytes. Unhygienic conditions among low socioeconomic group, frequent migration of laborers, workers, hot and humid climatic conditions may be some of the contributing epidemiological factors. The study signifies the importance of mycological examination of dermatophytoses samples for effective management and also for epidemiological studies.