Background: Tinea corporis et cruris is a major category of superficial dermatophytosis, forming the bulk of routine dermatology ailments. However, in recent years, an epidemic-like scenario of dermatophytosis has emerged with increased incidence of atypical morphological clinical variants and changing mycological profiles due to steroid abuse, epidemiological shift and antifungal resistance. Aims: This study aims to document the changing clinicomycological profile of dermatophytosis while highlighting the emerging incidence of varied atypical morphological variants. Methods: A cross-sectional study of cases presenting to the outpatient department with tinea corporis et cruris. Detailed history-taking and clinical examination were followed by direct microscopic examination of skin scrapings in potassium hydroxide (KOH) and fungal culture in Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA). Results: One hundred cases were enrolled over a period of 6 months. Male: female ratio observed was 1.56:1. Most patients (51%) had chronic disease, 42% cases showed recurrence, and relapse was seen in 28%; 58% had a history of prior treatment, among which 81.03% had a history of steroid application. Classical tinea corporis et cruris was the most common clinical presentation (54%) with variable degrees of inflammation, followed by steroid-modified tinea (32%), atypical tinea, concomitant bacterial infection, Majocchi’s granuloma, and Erythrodermic dermatophytosis. Atypical emerging morphological variants included tinea pseudoimbricata, double-edged tinea, eczema-like variant, dumbbell-shaped tinea, tinea recidivans, and impetigo-like variant. Lesions were most commonly located on the trunk (83%); unusual anatomical sites involved were ears (12%), eyelids (9%), and glabrous scalp (5%). KOH mount was positive in 68% cases, while fungal culture was positive in 43%. Fungal isolates were Trichophyton mentagrophytes/interdigitale (88.4%), Trichophyton rubrum (6.9%), and Epidermophyton floccosum (4.6%). Conclusion: The changing clinicomycological trends of tinea corporis et cruris seen throughout the country were reflected in this study, highlighting the evolving clinical patterns in the epidemic-like scenario in India.
Latsaheb et al. (Thu,) studied this question.