Abstract

Dermatophytosis, commonly referred to as ring worm which, is a superficial fungal infection caused by filamentous fungal species (Dermatophytes) belonging to three anamorphic genera, Trichophyton sp., Microsporum sp. and Epidermophyton sp. It is the most common superficial fungal infection in the world. Due to the importance of high prevalence rate of above diseases, this study was conducted to determine the epidemiologic condition of diseases in Al-Njaf province. Total of 216 specimens of (skin scrappings, hair fragments and nail clippings) were collected. Also 138/216 (63.9%) specimens exhibited positive results in both direct examination and culture, and 32/216 (14.8%) specimens were negative in direct examination and positive in culture therefore only 170/216 (78.7 %) specimens yielded growth of dermatophytes isolates and considered as positive specimens. Microsporum canis showed highest frequency in 54/216 (31.8 %) isolates, while M. audouinii and Trichphyton schoenleinii in 8/216 (4.71%) isolates showed lowest frequency. Also 38/216 (22.4%) of M. canis isolates were in male while 16/216 (9.41%) isolates in female, both T. schoenleinii and M. audouinii were not recorded in female 0(0%). Tinea corporis was the predominant infection in 75/157 (47.77%) patients followed by Tinea capitis in 29/157(18.47%) patients. Gender is not statically significant with dermatophytosis, while a significant (P<0.01) correlation was observed with age, residency variables. Age revealed significant effect (P<0.05) on the distribution of dermatophytosis patients, the age bracket 1-10 years were highest frequency with 42/157(26.8%) patients, while age bracket 61-70 years were lowest frequency 2/157(1.3%) patients. Residency revealed non significant association in relevance with type of dermatophytosis, while significant (P<0.01) correlation was observed with gender. This study showed that there is a high prevalence rate of Dermatophytosis in Al-Najaf province. Therefore, due to importance of the disease, it is necessary to diagnose and cure the disease immediately.

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