Clinico epidemiological and mycological study of pityriasis versicolor PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR

Abstract

Background: Pityriasis versicolor, a chronic superficial fungal infection caused by lipophilic yeasts of the genus, Malassezia is a common infection in the tropical and subtropical regions. Objective was to study the epidemiology, clinical presentation, associations, etiological agents and clinico-mycological correlation of pityriasis versicolor. Methods: Hundred patients with clinical diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor who attended the mycology out-patient (OP) clinic between September 2014 and August 2015 were enrolled. Skin scrapings from these patients were subjected to 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and culture.Results: Out of the 100 patients with pityriasis versicolor (PV), 70% were males and 30% were females and the most affected age group was between 21-30 years (43%). The youngest age affected was a 13 years old male while the oldest was a 65 years old male. Duration of the infection ranged between 1 month to 6 months in 65% while it was more than 1 year in 9% of patients. Recurrence was observed in 35% of them. Back was the most common site (48%) to be involved. Seventy percent of patients had more than 30% body surface area involvement. Achromic type of PV was the most common clinical presentation in 68% of patients. Out of the 76 isolates, Malassezia globosa was the predominant isolate (48.7%), followed by M. sympodialis (25%), M. furfur (10.5%), M. restricta (7.9%) and M. obtusa (6.6%).Conclusions: Achromic type of PV is the most common clinical presentation. Malassezia globosa is the most common etiological agent of pityriasis versicolor.

A Single Centre Demographic and Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Pityriasis Versicolor in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…We found multiple achromic/hypopigmented (50%), chromic/ hyperpigmented (25.9%) and erythematous (7.6%) macules. Similarly, Snekavalli 32 (achromic 68%; chromic 23%; mixed 9%), Kabbin et al 25 12 (62.9%) found hypopigmented macule as the most common presentation in PV. There are several hypotheses to explain the presence of various colours of macules in PV.…”

“…[3] We noted mild pruritus in 44.2% cases. But Snekavalli et al 32 showed pruritus in 32% and Rao et al 23 33 Ghosh et al demonstrated diabetes mellitus in 2.73% and lymphoproliferative malignancy in 1%. 1 Another study showed diabetes mellitus in 39.3% and hypertension in 25% of the participants.…”

“…16 Snekavalli et al also showed that the duration of the disease had been 1 month to 6 months in 64% participants in their study. 32 This study determined the Fitzpatrick skin type of the participants. PV was present mainly in the Fitzpatrick skin types 4 (49.03%) and 3 (27.8%).…”