ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Clinico-Mycological Pattern of Onychomycosis: A single center one year study in Kashmir-North India
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Microbiology Skims Medical College, Skims, India
Publication date: 2013-07-09
Eur J Gen Med 2013;10(3):150-153
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ABSTRACT
Onychomycosis is a major public health problem with high incidence, associated morbidity and long lasting treatment with anti-fungal agents. This study was carried out to know the clinico-mycological pattern of onychomycosis which can help in the control of this infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of various causative agents of onychomycosis, to identify the clinical pattern and to analyze the risk factors. This was a prospective study carried over a period of one year from Ist February 2010 to 31st january 2011 on samples from 150 patients with clinically suspected nail infections attending the dermatology department of SKIMS Medical college, Kashmir. The nails were evaluated clinically and the nail samples were subjected to direct microscopy and culture. 66.6% samples were positive by direct microscopy and culture. Males were infected more than females. The commonest age group infected was 21-30 years. Finger nails were affected more frequently than toe nails and distolateral subungal onychomycosis was the most common clinical type seen in 66% patients. The etiological agents were dermatophytes (62.68%), NDM (29.85%), yeasts (7.46%). Among dermatophytes T. rubrum was the commonest etiological agent.