title: Dermatophytes in northern Finland in 1982-90.
abstract: The epidemiology of human dermatophytes was studied in northern Finland in 1982-90. The samples were analysed at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu. The total number of samples was 17,822, of which 3185 (18%) were positive. The annual number of samples and positive cultures remained relatively constant. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common species being isolated from 2101 samples (66% of all positive cultures), while Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from 815 samples (26%) and Epidermophyton floccosum from 193 samples (6%). T. verrucosum caused an epidemic among cattle keepers in 1987-90, causing 47 infections. Microsporum canis, T. terrestre and T. violaceum were rare. The same species affected both children and adults. There was a tendency towards a decrease in tinea in the groin and a slight increase in tinea pedis. T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes occurred most frequently in patients aged 41-45 years and as foot infections. E. floccosum usually affected the toe web and the groin in patients aged 21-25 years, more often infecting men. Fifty-four per cent of all positive samples came from men and 46% from women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehenkari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvennoinen-Kassinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004821:Epidermophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008864:Microsporum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014005:Tinea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*