Fungal Infection as a Cause of Skin Disease in Western Australia

In the ten year period between 1963 and 1972. 1154 fungal infections of the fed were diagnosed in Western Australia from the examination of 2.732 patients. Dermatophyte fungi were responsible for 15.6% and Candida species 24.2% of these infections. Trichophyton rubrum caused 44.7% of the dermatophyte infections and T. mentagrophytes 37.3%. There was no significant seasonal effect on the occurrence of feel injections. Males were more commonly affected than females, dermatophyte ratio 3.8:1: and Candida 2.4:1. The disease was uncommon in young children (1.6% of total).