Clinico-epidemiologic profile of dermatophytosis in koh positive patients in a tertiary care hospital in Gurugram, Haryana

Dermato phytosis is a superficial cutaneous fungal infection of the dead keratinized tissues of skin, hair and nails. These dermatophytic fungi are amongst the most common fungal infections worldwide. In the past few years, the chronicity, severity, clinical presentation, relapse rates and resistance to treatment patterns have drastically changed in India. Keeping forth its evolution as a disease of great public health importance, a study was undertaken to know the epidemiological and clinical patterns of the disease. Aim: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological scenario of dermatophytosis in patients enrolled at a tertiary care centre of Gurugram, Haryana from December 2018 to December 2019.

A total of 220 clinically diagnosed patients with dermatophytosis were subjected to potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy. Out of them, 170 positive cases were analyzed for their epidemiological and clinical profile.

Male population (ratio 1.8:1) and the age group of 21 to 30 years were found to be the most affected. Mixed infection (tinea corporis et cruris) with 86 cases (50.59%) was the commonest clinical form of dermatophytosis documented followed by tinea cruris with 21 cases (12.35%). Tinea corporis (p-<0.001) and tinea cruris (p-<0.001) were found to be significantly higher in adults as compared to children. Majority belonged to rural background (60.6%). A significant number (45%) had moderate to extensive disease depending upon body surface area of involvement and almost half of them (45.9%) had the disease for 1-6 months duration.

Dermatophytosis has been found to be more common in 3^rd and 4^th decade with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. More number of cases with chronic and extensive disease have been found in our study.