title: Clinico-etiologic correlates of onychomycosis in Sikkim.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The etiological spectrum of any superficial mycosis is largely dependent on the flora in the immediate environment of the individual. It is influenced by the geographic, climatic and occupational factors. The study is basically to formulate baseline data for the species prevalence of various dermatophytes in patients with onychomycosis attending the Central Referral Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis were subjected to mycological studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two (94.12%) cases were positive for fungal elements by direct microscopy and 28 (82.35%) by culture. Young adults in the age group of 21-30 years were mainly affected. The male:female ratio was 1.125:1. Dermatophytes were isolated in 18 cases (64.29%). Trichophyton tonsurans (44.44%) was the most common isolate followed by T. mentagrophytes (22.22%), T. rubrum (11.11%), T. verrucosum (11.11%) and Microsporum audouinii (11.11%). Apart from dermatophytes, Aspergillus niger (21.43%) and Penicillium marneffei (14.28%) were also isolated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermatophytes, mainly T. tonsurans, as well as moulds other than dermatophytes were isolated from onychomycosis patients in Gangtok, Sikkim.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sikkim-Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences and Central referral Hospital, 5th Mile Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim-737 102, India.
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: Atrayee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das Gupta
authors.forename: Ranabir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: T S K
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Singh