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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

4.Mycosis in Jillin Province, China.

Hak Su KIM

Korean Journal of Medical Mycology 2002;7(1):22-34

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

5.Changing Patterns of Dermatophytosis and Its Causative Agents according to Social and Economic Developments in Korea.

Ki Hong KIM

Korean Journal of Medical Mycology 2006;11(1):1-12

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*