Dermatophytosis: Etiological Agents and Associated Risk Factors

Abstract

Dermatophytes are fungi that grow and multiply in keratinized tissues (skin, hair and nails) causing infections that are commonly referred to as “Tinea” or “ring-worm”. This study was aimed to identify the dermatophytes that commonly isolated from dermatophytoses patients and to study the relationship between dermatophytosis and the risk factors that might associated with dermatophytoses patients in Khartoum State, Sudan. Three hundred samples were collected from patients who were apparently suffering from dermatophytoses. Patients were questionnaired pertaining to age, sex, family history, animal contact, residence, type of infection, season. From the collected specimens, 180 (60%) of cases were positive for isolating of dermatophytes. Tinea corporis was the most common type of dermatophytoses. The sequence of effect factors among patients were shown that : age (11-20), sex (males), chronicity of infection, summer season, animal contact and rural residence were the most parameters that increased the occurrence of the dermatophytoses.