Prevalence of Tinea pedis in Systemic Immune Response Defect in Dermatology Clinic, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Abstract

Prevalence of Tinea pedis in Systemic Immune Response Defect in Dermatology Clinic, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital*

Kanchana  Sermswan MD**

* This work was supported by The Vajira Research Fund (annual research fund 2001)

** Department of Medicine, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To compare prevalence of dermatophyte infection in systemic immunocompetent with immuno­compromised patients which were defined as symptomatic HIV infection, diabetes mellitus and systemic corticosteroid therapy.

Study design : Cross-sectional study.

Subjects : During a 2-month period between January and February 2001, 210 cases who attended as out patient of dermatology clinic  were invited to enrolled into the study. One hundred and eleven cases were immunocompetent hosts and 99 cases were immunocompromised hosts (27 cases were symptomatic HIV infection, 39 cases were diabetes mellitus and 33 cases were systemic steroid therapy patients).

Methods : All patients were completely examined their feet. In case of positive skin lesion(s), KOH preparation for microscopic examination were done in accompanied with culture in Sabouraud's media. Prevalence of dermatophyte infection in groups were compared using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.

Main outcome measures : Prevalence of dermatophyte infection in systemic immune response defect.

Results: Prevalence of microscopically or culture-proven tinea pedis was 3.81% (8 cases), 3.60% (4 cases) were normal immunity persons, 4.04% (4 cases) were systemic immunocompromised [3.70% (1 case) was symptomatic HIV infection, 5.13% (2 cases) diabetes mellitus, and 3.03% (1 case) was systemic steroid therapy]. Cultures were positive in 5 cases from 8 cases of microscopically positive (62.5%) most of them were Trichophyton rubrum.

Conclusion: The prevalence of dermatophyte infection of foot in systemic immunocompetent hosts and immunocompromised hosts were no statistically significant difference.

Key words : dermatophyte, tinea pedis, immunocompromise, diabetes, corticosteroid, HIV infection

Vajira Med J 2001 ; 45 : 189 - 195