BACKGROUND: Tinea versicolor is regarded as one of the most common dermatoses. It constitutes about 3% of dermatological patients. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of tinea versicolor among patients with fungal skin infections. Special attention was paid to sex and age distribution, as well as to the associated cutaneous and systemic disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was based on 2665 questionnaires. The clinical diagnosis of tinea versicolor was confirmed by positive direct mycological examination in 10~20% potassium hydroxide solution with addition of dimethyl sulfoxide and by yellow-orange Wood's lamp fluorescence of the lesions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Tinea versicolor was diagnosed in 325 patients (12.2% of all patients with different fungal skin and nail infections). Female patients constituted 52.3% and males 47.7%. The majority of patients were from the big towns (81.2%), only 4% of patients lived in the rural areas. 45.3% of patients finished secondary school, 23.4% had higher education. The age of patients varied from 10 to 79 years, mean age 36.1 +/- 15.3 years. Tinea versicolor was diagnosed in 45.0% of patients between the age of 16 and 35 years and it was uncommon in children (5.2%). The duration of the disease was 1 week to 23 years, mean 2.5+/-3.5 years. 49.5% of patients were previously treated with different regimens, Other cutaneous abnormalities were found in 20.6% of patients with tinea versicolor. Among them acne (4.9%), seborrheic dermatitis (3,1%) and onychomycosis (3.1%) were the most common ones. 14.5% of tinea versicolor patients suffered from systemic diseases, such as arterial hypertension (4%), thyroid abnormalities (3.1%), coronary insufficiency (2.5%) and diabetes melllitus (1.5%).
Acne Vulgaris ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Diagnosis ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Malassezia ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Potassium ; Prospective Studies* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Tinea Versicolor* ; Tinea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing prosthetic treatment develop yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa in 60~70% of cases. In patients treated for maxillary tumors the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the presence of Candida species by means of an imaging method with the use of scanning microscope picture. Using this method the authors wanted to investigate the adherence of Candida species to the surface of silicon elastomer and to evaluate their presence in the transverse section through the external lining of the post-surgical maxillary prosthesis obturator after the use of Silosept and Betadine. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients who had undergone the maxillary surgery for various kinds of tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators which had been lined with a silicon material, Mucopren three weeks prior to examination. The patients were advised to use 2% Silosept solution for disinfection and 0.5% Betadine gel to apply for the night. RESULTS: The analysis of findings revealed the presence of fungi in the post-surgical cavity in 92% of the patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 96% of cases. The post-surgical section through the lining material revealed the presence of Candida species in 16% of patients, however this method does not allow an exact diagnosis of fungi. CONCLUSION: Microscopic pictures demonstrated the 96% adhesion of Candida species to external silicon elastomer lining material. The presence of Candida in the transverse sections of the soft material was revealed in 16% of patients. Adherence to the base was found to be a causative factor favouring the persistence of inflammatory condition of the prosthesis bearing area.
Candida ; Candida albicans ; Diagnosis ; Disinfection ; Elastomers ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Povidone-Iodine ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Silicone Elastomers

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing prosthetic treatment develop yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa in 60~70% of cases. In patients treated for maxillary tumors the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the presence of Candida species by means of an imaging method with the use of scanning microscope picture. Using this method the authors wanted to investigate the adherence of Candida species to the surface of silicon elastomer and to evaluate their presence in the transverse section through the external lining of the post-surgical maxillary prosthesis obturator after the use of Silosept and Betadine. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients who had undergone the maxillary surgery for various kinds of tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators which had been lined with a silicon material, Mucopren three weeks prior to examination. The patients were advised to use 2% Silosept solution for disinfection and 0.5% Betadine gel to apply for the night. RESULTS: The analysis of findings revealed the presence of fungi in the post-surgical cavity in 92% of the patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 96% of cases. The post-surgical section through the lining material revealed the presence of Candida species in 16% of patients, however this method does not allow an exact diagnosis of fungi. CONCLUSION: Microscopic pictures demonstrated the 96% adhesion of Candida species to external silicon elastomer lining material. The presence of Candida in the transverse sections of the soft material was revealed in 16% of patients. Adherence to the base was found to be a causative factor favouring the persistence of inflammatory condition of the prosthesis bearing area.
Candida ; Candida albicans ; Diagnosis ; Disinfection ; Elastomers ; Fungi* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Povidone-Iodine ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Silicone Elastomers

BACKGROUND: Majority of people have yeast-like fungi on their oral mucosa. In the case of a neoplastic disease and the use of a prosthesis with obturator, the incidence of fungi increases. OBJECTIVE: To prove the presence of yeast-like fungi prior to and after lining of the prosthesis obturator and after the use of Betadina and Silosept. Swabs were taken from the post surgical cavities and the prosthesis obturators and cultured on Sabouraud agar with gentamicin and chloramphenicol (SGC) and on IDII medium manufactured by Bio Merieux, France. METHODS: The material comprised 25 patients after removal of various maxillary tumors. All the patients had prostheses with obturators. The prostheses were disinfected with 2% solution of Silosept while the mucous membrane of the post surgical cavities was covered with 0.5% Betadina gel. RESULTS: Swab cultures taken prior to the treatment revealed the growth of C. albicans in the post surgical cavity of 80% of patients and on the prosthesis obturator in 76% of cases. C. species was found on both, the prosthesis obturator and in the post surgical cavity in 64% of patients. Mycological examination of the fungi isolated from the swab after lining of the prosthesis obturator and after the application of Betadina and Silosept revealed the presence of C. albicans on the prosthesis obturator and in the post surgical cavity in 68% of patients. Candida species was revealed in the post surgical cavity in 84% of cases and on the prosthesis obturator in 88% of patients. CONCLUSION: The presence of yeast-like fungi in post surgical cavity and on the prosthesis obturator was confirmed in about 90% of cases. The fungi may be predisposed to the inflammatory conditions, which may contribute to the neoplastic metaplasia. Applied concentrations of Betadina and Silosept preparations proved ineffective in the eradication of the fungi, that is why further investigation is necessary in order to determine effective concentrations of the above agents and/or search for other effective measures.
Agar ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Chloramphenicol ; France ; Fungi* ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxillary Neoplasms* ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis* ; Metaplasia ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane ; Prostheses and Implants