Onychomycosis in Lahore, Pakistan.
BACKGROUND
Onychomycosis, a common nail disorder, is caused by yeasts, dermatophytes, and nondermatophyte molds. These fungi give rise to diverse clinical presentations. The present study aimed to isolate the causative pathogens and to determine the various clinical patterns of onychomycosis in the population in Lahore, Pakistan.


METHODS
In 100 clinically suspected cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by mycologic culture. Different clinical patterns were noted and correlated with causative pathogens.


RESULTS
Seventy-two women (mean age, 32.6 +/- 14.8 years) and 28 men (mean age, 40.6 +/- 15.8 years) were studied. Fingernails were involved in 50%, toenails in 23%, and both fingernails and toenails in 27% of patients. The various clinical types noted were distolateral subungual onychomycosis (47%), candidal onychomycosis (36%), total dystrophic onychomycosis (12%), superficial white onychomycosis (3%), and proximal subungual onychomycosis (2%). Candida was the most common pathogen (46%), followed by dermatophytes (43%) (Trichophyton rubrum (31%), T. violaceum (5%), T. mentagrophytes (4%), T. tonsurans (2%), and Epidermophyton floccosum (1%) and nondermatophyte molds (11%) (Fusarium (4%), Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (2%), Aspergillus (2%), Acremonium (1%), Scytalidium dimidiatum (1%), and Alternaria (1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Onychomycosis is more common in women of 20-40 years of age. Distolateral subungual onychomycosis and candidal onychomycosis are the most common clinical presentations, and Candida and T. rubrum are the major pathogens in Pakistan.
Bokhari
M A
MA
Department of Dermatology, King Edward Medical College/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Hussain
I
I
Jahangir
M
M
Haroon
T S
TS
Aman
S
S
Khurshid
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000935:Antifungal Agents