Infectious dermatoses in adult diabetic patients

Abstract

Background The views about the increased prevalence of cutaneous infections in diabetic patients are in conflict.Objectives To study the prevalence of cutaneous infections in diabetic patients.Methods 100 non-insulin dependent diabetics and 100 controls were studied. Complete skin examination and routine dermatologic tests were used in the diagnosis of cutaneous infections.Results The overall prevalence of infections was higher in diabetic than non-diabetic patients. The toe webs were the most commonly affected sites. The frequency of erythrasma was significantly higher in diabetics, but not of candidosis, tinea versicolor, dermatophytosis and staphylococcal and viral infections.Conclusion In diabetics, erythrasma was the most frequently encountered skin infection.

Intertriginous lesions in pityriasis versicolor

“…None of the subjects with flexural lesions in the present study was receiving immunosuppressive therapy and only one, with lesions in the antecubital areas, was diabetic. In a previous study of infectious dermatoses in diabetic patients, pityriasis versicolor was not significantly prevailing 16 …”