Clinical and Epidemiological Studies of Tinea Versicolor in Kuwait

Abstract

Summary: Tinea versicolor in Kuwait was found to be more predominant among males (60.9%) than females (39.1%). Patients of the age group 20–29 years had higher frequency of infection (48.2%). These patients had had the longest durations of infection and the most frequent rate of occurrence: Their infection tended to be chronic and recurrent. The most common sites of tinea versicolor infection were the chest and neck in both male and female patients. Anatomical distribution of infection was remarkably different in males than females. Although lesions of tinea versicolor were typically observed in locations such as the shoulders, arms and abdomen, eruptions in the interdigital spaces, axillae, face and groin were also seen. The observation of tinea versicolor lesions in the interdigital spaces adds another atypical site of infection with M. furfur. Hyperpigmented lesions were more predominantly observed than hypopigmented type of lesions. This predominance of hyperpigmentation might be due to the presence of M. furfur which was found in abundance in the hyperpigmented lesions. Genetic transfer of susceptibility to tinea versicolor infection was not substantiated in our investigation, although we found that 17.7% of our patients had positive family history. Occurrence of tinea versicolor was more common in the summer and spring months (89.7%) and gradually dissipated during the autumn and winter months. This predominance of tinea versicolor might be related to the hot climate in Kuwait during the months of April to September. Our findings suggest that sweating may have no role in determining the intensity of tinea versicolor infection or the extent of lesions, rather it seems likely that it could be an important factor in producing the unpleasent symptoms of tinea versicolor once infection has been established. Zusammenfassung: In Kuwait kommt die Pityriasis versicolor unter Männern (60,9%) häufiger vor als bei Frauen (39,1%). Besonders betroffen war die Altersgruppe zwischen 20 und 29 Jahren mit einem Anteil von 48,2%. Diese Patienten hatten auch die längste Dauer der Infektion und zeigten die größte Rückfallrate: Bei ihnen tendierte die Mykose zu besonders chronischem und häufig rezidivierendem Verlauf. Die Pityriasis versicolor war am häufigsten an der Brust und am Hals bei männlichen und weiblichen Patienten lokalisiert. Bei Männern wies im übrigen die anatomische Verteilung der Erkrankung deutliche Unterschiede zu der Verteilung bei Frauen auf. Obwohl die Veränderungen der Pityriasis versicolor in typischer Lokalisation wie Schultern, Armen, Abdomen beobachtet wurden, fanden sich auch Herde in den Interdigitalräumen, in den Achselhöhlen, im Gesicht und in den Leistenbeugen. Die Beobachtung von Pityriasis versicolor‐Herden in den Fingerzwischenräumen stellt eine neue atypische Lokalisation dar. Hyperpigmentierte Herde wurden häufiger beobachtet als hypopigmentierte. Das Überwiegen der Hyperpigmentierung ist möglicherweise auf die Gegenwart von Malassezia furfur zurückzuführen, da der Erreger in den hyperpigmen...

Pityriasis versicolor—Epidemiological and Therapeutical Study

“…According to some authors, both sexes are probably equally prone to this infection (4). Others found that pityriasis versicolor is more common among males than females (5,6). On the basis of the results of our study we came to the same conclusion.…”

Pityrosporum orbiculare in Children

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