Prevalence and mycological diagnosis of dermatophytosis among people living in the coastal community of Puducherry, India

Dermatophytes are fungi that affects people of all geographic areas. The current study aimed at the prevalence and laboratory diagnosis of dermatophytosis among people living in the coastal community of Puducherry for a period of one year.

Clinical and mycological study of dermatophytosis was conducted on 356 cases from coastal areas of Puducherry. Direct microscopy (KOH mount), culture of samples on Sabourauds dextrose agar (SDA) and Dermatophyte test medium (DTM) was carried out.

139 out of 356 cases (39%) were positive by culture, 89(25%) were positive by KOH and 141 (39.6%) were positive by either microscopy/culture on SDA and DTM. Tinea corporis 107 (30.1%) and Tinea unguium 82 (23.1%) being the most common presentation in this population whereas Tinea pedis 10 (2.8%) and Tinea faciei 8 (2.2%) being the least encountered clinical condition.Trichophyton mentagrophytes 60(43.2%) was the most frequent pathogen isolated followed by Trichophyton rubrum 47 (33.8%). Out of 25 (7.0%) Cases whose culture was positive and direct microscopy KOH did not yield a positive result.

To conclude the dermatophytosis being a disease of lower socio economic population causes greater annoyance as many a time people living in coastal community are more involved in outdoor manual labor. Hence it's mandatory to create awareness in this population regarding its prevention. This study also signifies the importance of mycological findings by both direct microscopy and culture along with clinical diagnosis for the specific detection of dermatophytosis.