title: [Superficial mycoses in the city of Valparaiso, Chile: period 2007-2009].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial mycoses are infections of the keratinous tissue caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the species of dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi that cause superficial mycosis and analyze their differences by sex, age and location of the lesion, in patients from the region of Valparaiso, during 2007-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  1004 patients diagnosed with superficial mycoses were studied. All ages and both genera were included. The study was done using direct microscopic examination with 20% KOH and culture of the lesions. Fungi identification was mainly morphophysiological.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1004 patients studied, 609 were women and 87.7% was 15 years old or younger. Toenail onychomycosis was the most frequent lesion (58.1%), followed by tinea pedis and interdigitalis (16.3%). In patients younger than 8 years old, tinea capitis by Microsporum canis was the most common mycoses. Among dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum (78.9%) predominated in most locations, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (14.9%) and M. canis (5.4%). Candida spp. (95.4%) prevailed among the yeasts causing onychomycosis. There were 27 cases of toenail onychomycosis caused by environmental fungi, mainly Fusarium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are consistent with national and international data, where T. rubrum is the predominant agent of dermatomycoses. We report the emergency of agents not described in Chile or Latin America in these infections.
authors: Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile. rcruzchoappa@gmail.com
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Cruz Ch
authors: Eliette
authors: E
authors: Ponce E
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Calderón R
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Delgado V
authors: Peggy
authors: P
authors: Vieille O
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Piontelli L
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult