Clinico-mycological evaluation of onychomycosis at Bangalore and Jorhat.
BACKGROUND
Clinical and mycological features of onychomycosis show variation with time and place.


METHODS
A study to analyze the morphological variants and mycological isolates of onychomycosis was carried out in 50 patients attending the dermatology out-patient departments at the Air Force Hospitals at Bangalore and at Jorhat. Nail clippings were subjected to direct microscopy and cultured on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar.


RESULTS
The commonest age group affected (56%) was the 20-40 year age group. The fingernails alone were involved in 24 (48%) patients, the toenails alone in 15 (30%) patients, and both in 11 (22%) patients. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis was encountered in 41 (82%) patients, proximal superficial onychomycosis and total dystrophic onychomycosis in 3 each (6%), paronychia in 2 (4%) and superficial white onychomycosis in 1. Of the 59 samples cultured, dermatophytes were grown in 14 (23.7%), non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) in 13 (22.0%), candida in 10 (16.8%) and no growth in 22 (37.2%) samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, and among the NDM, Aspergillus spp., were the commonest isolates.
Grover
S
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Department of Dermatology, Air Force Hospital, Agram PO, Bangalore-560007. sanjivgrover@rediffmail.com