A CROSS-SECTIONAL CLINICOMYCOLOGICAL STUDY OF TINEA CORPORIS IN AN INDIAN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Tinea corporis, a fungal infection of the skin, hair, and nails, has become a significant public health concern in recent years. This study aimed to assess the frequency of various fungal species associated with Tinea corporis and explore potential correlations with clinical features. A total of 311 cases from a tertiary care facility in India participated in this cross-sectional study. Samples from skin, hair, and nails were analyzed using fungal cultures and potassium hydroxide (KOH) mounts. Most patients were male and in their third decade of life, with 13% having Tinea corporis et cruris and 48.8% reporting a positive family history. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most commonly isolated species (80.92%), followed by Trichophyton rubrum (14.54%). No significant correlation was found between clinical characteristics, such as body surface area or illness duration, and the type of fungus identified.