I Tinea Corporis

In Western Australia, a total of 2.259 scrapings from the glabrous skin grew a fungal pathogen in the 10-year period 1963–1972. The dermatophyte most frequently isolated from these lesions was Microsporum canis, followed by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton tonsurans, in this order. Candida was responsible for only 6.3% of the infections and is not an important causal agent in infections of the glabrous skin. The majority of fungal infections occur in the 1–10 age group, 46.17% of the total; but infections occur in all age groups from a few weeks old babies to octogenarians. Total frequency of infection in males and females is equal but variations in numbers are seen to occur within different species. Although monthly variations in numbers of infections occur, infection is present in the community in all seasons.