In the past 15 years, from 1986 to 2000, 2,763 cases of superficial mycoses had been diagnosed and treated in Jillin Province. Other mycoses included 1,450 cases of tinea versicolor, 497 cases of candidiasis, 142 cases of sporotrichosis, 1 case of chromomycosis, and 47 cases of aspergillosis. Among the 2,763 cases of superficial mycoses, 762 cases were tinea cruris, 246 cases were tinea manus, 661 cases were tinea pedis, and 156 cases were onychomycosis. From the region, there was a high incidence of sporotrichosis in the middle and the west part of our province, and there was rather low incidence of it in the eastern mountain areas. We separated Sporothrix schenckii from the natural environment. Sporothrix schenckii was separated from the plants and the soil in both the region of high incidence and low incidence. Therefore, the reason why there's a low incidence in the eastern mountain areas is still unknown. Pathogenic fungi were separated, and we found 2,038 strains of T. rubrum, which came first in the pathogenic fungi of dermatophytoses. Coming next were T. mentagiophytes, M. canis, E. floccosum, M. gypseum and T. violaseum. Sporothrix schenckii was separated from all of the 142 cases of sporotrichosis. Candida albicans A, Candida albicans B, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis were separated from candidiasis; Exophiala jeanselmei was separated chromomycosis; A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. favus were separated from aspergillosis. The problem we should pay attention to is; In the 1980's, M. canis came third in the pathogenic fungi of dermatophytoses, first in that of tinea capitis, which took 84.2% in the pathogenic fungi of tinea capitis. But from the beginning of 1990's, the number had declined. By the end of 1990's, M. canis just took 9.6 percent in the pathogenic fungi of tinea capitis. And the separation rate of M. canis from cat had obviously declined. Whether it's getting to vanish like M. ferrugineum also needs paying attention to.
Animals ; Aspergillosis ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Candida tropicalis ; Candidiasis ; Cats ; China* ; Chromoblastomycosis ; Epidemiology ; Exophiala ; Fungi ; Incidence ; Mycoses ; Niger ; Onychomycosis ; Soil ; Sporothrix ; Sporotrichosis ; Tinea ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea Favosa ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of dermatomycosis are changed under the various influences such as geographic factor, social environment and development of therapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the present status of dermatomycosis and changes on the prevalence, sex and age distribution and causative organisms. METHODS: We performed clinical and mycological studies on 7,568 cases of dermatomycosis among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Chonnam University Hospital for 10 years, from January 1991 to December 2000. RESULTS: The incidence of dermatomycosis was 17.6% of out-patients and show the highest incidence in the fourth decades (18.8%). The ratio of male to female was 1.3:1, showing slightly male-predominant pattern. The incidence of Tinea pedis (28.9%) was the highest, followed by Onychomycosis (16.3%), Tinea corporis (11.2%), Tinea cruris (10.1%), Tinea versicolor (9.3%), Tinea manus (8.0%), Candidiasis (6.9%), Tinea faciale (5.5%) and Tinea capitis (3.2%). Coexisting fungal infections were found 846 patients (11.2%) and the cases of Tinea pedis with onychomycosis were the most common. The positive rate of KOH examination was 50.8% and the positive rate of culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media was 31.4%. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was the most common causative organism of dematomycosis (67.7%), followed by Candida albicans (13.0%), Microsporum(M.) canis (9.9%), T. mentagrophytes (7.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (0.5%), M. gypseum (0.5%), T. verrucosum (0.4%), T. tonsurans (0.3%) and T. violaceum (0.2%). CONCLUSION: Compared with previous studies, the incidence of dermatomycosis increased, especially in females and was evenly distributed throughout all ages. The frequency of tinea pedis and tinea cruris decreased, but increased in onychomycosis.
Agar ; Age Distribution ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis ; Dermatomycoses* ; Epidermophyton ; Female ; Geography ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Social Environment ; Tinea ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor

Dermatomycoses are defined as the fungal infections of the skin including hair and nail. Generally, dermatomycoses are divided into superficial mycoses involving hair, nail and horny layer of the epidermis, and deep mycoses involving dermis and subcutis. Superficial mycoses described herein are dermatophytosis, candidiasis and Malassezia infection. Histopathologic findings of onychomycosis were a little more focused because of recently increased interest of its usefulness in making the diagnosis of onychomycosis and its causative fungi. Deep mycoses of the skin include primary or secondary dermal and/or subcutaneous fungal infections. Deep mycoses reported only in Korea were briefly described herein. Those are sporotrichosis, the most common primary cutaneous deep mycosis in Korea, and rare deep mycoses including chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis, mycetoma, cutaneous paecillomycosis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, mucormycosis, systemic candidiasis, fusariomysosis, and trichophytic granuloma. Cutaneous protothecosis, a disease by achlorophilic algae, was also included because of its similarity of clinical and pathological findings with deep mycoses.
Aspergillosis ; Candidiasis ; Chromoblastomycosis ; Cryptococcosis ; Dermatomycoses* ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Fungi ; Granuloma ; Hair ; Korea ; Malassezia ; Mucormycosis ; Mycetoma ; Mycoses ; Onychomycosis ; Phaeohyphomycosis ; Skin ; Sporotrichosis ; Tinea

Indonesia is a tropical country and is the largest archipelago in the world. The country consists of more than 17,000 islands, although only 6,000 are inhabited by a population of more than 201 million people. In tropical countries, superficial mycosis are prevalent all the time, pytiriasis versicolor, several clinical forms of tineas and cutaneous candidosis comprise the most common spectrum of the disease. In our clinic this group diseases ranks the second or third place after dermatitis and acne vulgaris. Besides these common superficial fungal diseases, tines imbricate is endemic in eastern parts of islands in Indonesia. Sporotrichosis, chromomycosis, mycetoma and subcutaneous zygomycosis are occasionally seen in our clinic. The incidence of mycosis profunda is 0~2 per year in our department. Besides dermatomycosis, systemic mycosis s. a. lung aspergillosis, candidosis of the G. I. tract were also observed. Other systemic mycosis reported as endemic are histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.
Acne Vulgaris ; Chromoblastomycosis ; Cryptococcosis ; Dermatitis ; Dermatomycoses ; Histoplasmosis ; Incidence ; Indonesia ; Islands ; Mycetoma ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Skin* ; Sporotrichosis ; Tinea ; Zygomycosis

Superficial cutaneous mycosis is mycotic infection of the epidermis of the skin, and one of common dermatoses in Korea. They have close relationship between host (human) and fungi. Their clinical patterns and incidence, and their causative fungi may change with social environments and life patterns. Since 1945, GNP has been increased explosively, more than 243 folds, and economic developments brought abrupt changes of social environments and life patterns in Korea. Furthermore, there had been great social events during this period; Korean War in 1950-1953, the Asian Game in 1986, the Olympic Game in 1988 and the World Cup in 2002. Those events gave much chances for dermatophytes to move and change. Tinea pedis is the most common dermatophytosis and has been increased from 26% of all dermatophytosis in late 1950s to 40.9-42.2%. And tinea unguium(onychomycosis) has been increased as tinea pedis does; Its proportion was 2.8% in late 1950s, and 17% in 1990s. The patients with tinea pedis have high family infection rate and also have high coexisting dermatophytosis. The most common isolate was Trichophyton(T.) rubrum, followed by T. mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum. Tinea capitis showed the most dramatic changes; its incidence was the highest just after Korean war and decreased abruptly since 1970s. Microsporum(M.) ferrugineum was the most common isolates till 1970s, and abruptly decreased and now nearly disappeared. Trichophyton(T.) violaceum was isolated in Cheju island. After Korean war, T. schoenleinii was isolated from favus and is disappeared. M. canis was isolated for the first time in 1959 and has been the most common isolates since late 1970s. T. verrucosum was isolated in 1986, and T. tonsurans was isolated for the first time in 1995 and spread among wrestlers, Judo players and Korean wrestlers. It might be imported by wrestlers with sport exchanging program. In cidence of tinea cruris was dramatically changed and was 5% of all dermatophytosis in 1940s, and 26.6-39.1% in 1990s. Those changes might be related to change of life patterns. Proportion of cutaneous candidiasis among superficial cutaneous mycosis was 1.9% in 1960s, 6.7% in 1973, 14.6% in 1976-1985, and 7.4% in 1989-1992. Proportion of pityriasis versicolor among superficial cutaneous mycosis was 12.1% in 1973, 7.7% in 1976-1985, and 7.7% in 1989-1992. Research for Malassezia have been increasing since late 1990s and that will bring us many new informations.
Arthrodermataceae ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous ; Climacteric ; Epidermis ; Epidermophyton ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Korean War ; Malassezia ; Martial Arts ; Mycoses* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Social Change ; Social Environment ; Sports ; Tinea ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea Favosa ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of dermatomycosis are not static but change under the influence of various forces such as geographic factor, social environment and development in prophylaxis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the present status of dermatomycosis and changes on the prevalence, sex, age distribution and causative organisms. METHODS: We performed clinical and mycological studies on 7,785 cases of dermatomycosis among outpatients of Dermatologic clinic of Chonnam University Hospital for 10 years, from January 2001 to December 2010. RESULTS: The incidence of dermatomycosis was 12.5% of outpatients and show the highest incidence over 7th decades (24.2%). The incidence of tinea pedis (24.1%) was the highest, followed by onychomycosis (18.1%). Coexisting fungal infections were found 693 (9.2%) and the cases of tinea pedis with onychomycosis were the most common. The positive rate of KOH examination was 49.7% and the positive rate of culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media was 36.5%. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common causative organism of dermatomycosis (51.1%), followed by Candida species (33.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of the changes between current and past epidemiologic, clinical and mycological features in the cutaneous fungal infections are important to investigational efforts, diagnosis, and treatment.
Agar ; Age Distribution ; Candida ; Dermatomycoses ; Geography ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Social Environment ; Tinea Pedis ; Trichophyton

While mycological examinations, potassium hydroxide preparation, and fungus culture remain the gold standard for the diagnosis of superficial dermatomycoses, mycological procedures have limitations because they are rather complex, time-consuming, and require skilled personnel and additional mycological tools. Dermoscopy is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows better visualization of morphologic structures of the skin than the naked eye. It is easily performed with a hand-held dermoscope and allows immediate diagnosis. It has been primarily used to evaluate pigmented skin lesions, but recent advances indicate that it can also be a useful and convenient tool for diagnosing superficial dermatomycoses. The determination of specific dermoscopic patterns of fungal infection, especially in selected cases involving terminal hairs or nails, could lead to a straightforward diagnosis and facilitate their differentiation from non-fungal skin diseases. In addition, dermoscopy permits better inspection of subtle clinical features caused by fungi that are less evident to the naked eye; thus, in most cases, it can enhance clinician's diagnostic accuracy and confidence level, and allow determination of the best site for adequate mycological sampling as well as therapeutic monitoring. However, it should be a part of the evaluation in combination with other mycological tests because it does not substitute confirmatory examination for superficial dermatomycoses.
Dermatomycoses* ; Dermoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Hair ; Onychomycosis ; Potassium ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tinea Capitis

Deramtophytosis is one of common dermatoses and occupied 10~20% of all dermatologic outpatients in Korea. It has close relationship between host (human) and dermatophytes. Their clinical patterns and incidence, and their causative dermatophytes may change with social environments and life patterns; Some dermatophytes may decrease or disappear and others can be imported from other countries. During recent 60 years, GNP has been increased explosively, more than 190 folds, and that economic developments brought abrupt changes of social environments and life patterns in Korea. Furthermore, there had been great social events; Korean War in 1950~1953, the Asian Game in 1986, the Olympic Game in 1988 and the World Cup in 2002. Those events gave much chances for dermatophytes to move and change. Trends of clinical types of dermatophytosis and their causative dermatophytes were evaluated with reported articles during the period. Tinea capitis showed the most dramatic changes. Its incidence was the highest just after Korean war, 24.5% of all primary school students, and decreased abruptly by 26.5% of all dermatophytosis in late 1950s, 4.9% in late 1960s, and 2~4% since 1970s. Microsporum(M.) ferrugineum was the most common isolates till 1970s, and abruptly decreased and now nearly disappeared. Trichophyton(T.) violaceum was isolated in Cheju island. After Korean war, T. schoenleinii was isolated from favus and disappeared. M. canis was isolated for the first time in 1959 and has been the most common isolates from tinea capitis since late 1970s. T. verrucosum was isolated for the first time in 1986 in Kwangju and has been isolated nation-widely. T. tonsurans was isolated for the first time in 1995 in Daegu and spread among wrestlers, Judo players and Korean wrestlers. It might be imported by wrestlers with sport exchanging program. Tinea pedis is the most common dermatophytosis in Korea now. It was 26% of all dermatophytosis in late 1950s, and increased by 40.9~42.2% in 1970s. And tinea unguium has been increased as tinea pedis does; It was 2.8% of all dermatophytosis in late 1950s, and increased by 5.1~14.2% in 1970s, 5.5~15.3% in 1870s and 17% in 1990s. The patiets with tinea pedis have high family infection and also high coexisting dermatophytosis. The most common isolate was T. rubrum, followed by T. mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum. Tinea cruris was one of dramatically changed dermatophytosis. Its incidence was 5% of all dermatophytosis in 1940s, and increased by 10.2% in late 1950s, and 26.6~39.1% in 1970s. Environments and socioeconomic conditions are changing, and international travel and sports exchanging program are increasing. All those social events may cause new dermatophytes to invade from other countries. We should check it carefully and continuously.
Arthrodermataceae ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Daegu ; Epidermophyton ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeju-do ; Korea* ; Korean War ; Martial Arts ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Skin Diseases ; Social Change ; Social Environment ; Sports ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea Favosa ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea*

This study was made in order to investigate the present status of superficial dermatophytoses and some changes on the frequency of the diseases, sex distributions and varieties of the causative organisms. The survey was made by 1486 out-patients of dermatology clinic of National Medical Center from May to August in 1978. Following results are obtained: 1. The incidence of superficial fungal infections including Tinea versicolor is 22. 2% and Tinea versicolor alone is 2. 8% among total l486 out-patients. 2. The ratio of male to female patients is 190:140 and shows more prevalence in male. 3. The age group from 20 to 29 shows the highest incidence and 38. 3% of all patients with superficial fungal infection falls in this age group. 4. Tinea pedis reveals the commonest disease and others in decreasing frequency are Tinea corporis, Onychomycosis, Tinea manus, Tinea corporis, Candidiasis and Tinea capitis. 5. Coexisting fungal infection is found in 60 patients and is most prevalent in the age group from 40 to 49, related to the ratio of age specific coexisting cases to each age group patients. 6. Tinea pedis with Onychomycosis reveals the most prevalent coexisting superficial fungal infection and others in decreasing frequencies are Tinea pedis with Tinea manus, Tinea pedis with Tinea cruris, Tinea cruris witb Tinea corporis and so on. 7. Positive rate of KOH mount among 362 scrapings is 64. 7% and Tinea cruris shows the highest positive rate (86. O%.) and Tinea corporis the next (78. 6%). 8. 187 strains are isolated by Sabourauds dextrose agar, 140 from positive KOH scrapings and 47 from negative KOH scrapings. a. Trichophyton rubrum is the most common organism of superficial dermatophytosis (43 8%) b, Microsporum species reveal the most common organism of Tinea capitis (80%).
Agar ; Candidiasis ; Dermatology ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Microsporum ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Sex Distribution ; Tinea Capitis ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton

Trichophyton rubrum is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is found all over the world, It has become one of the most important causative agents in tinea unguium and tinea pedis. But tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum is rare. Tinea capitis is uncommon in adult. We report a case of tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum in a 67-year-old female, who showed fine scaly erythematous pustules with alopecia on the frontal scalp for 2 months. Culture from a scalp lesion of patient on Sabouraud dextrose agar showed typical whitish cottony colonies of T. rubrum. The patient had been treated with terbinafine.
Adult ; Agar ; Aged* ; Alopecia ; Arthrodermataceae ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Onychomycosis ; Scalp ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*