Clinical Profile And Risk Factors of Dermatophytosis: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Dermatophytosis is a common superficial fungal infection affecting skin, hair and nails. Increasing recurrence, extensive disease and treatment failure have made dermatophytosis an important clinical problem in dermatology practice. Host factors, household exposure, occlusion, sweating, hygiene practices, self-medication and inappropriate topical corticosteroid use may influence disease occurrence and persistence. Aim: To describe the clinical profile of dermatophytosis and identify demographic, behavioral and occupational risk factors associated with extensive disease, recurrence and treatment failure. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was done using 75 patients with clinically suspected dermatophytosis. Demographic characteristics, duration of disease, anatomical distribution, predisposing factors, previous treatment, recurrence, clinical morphology and mycological findings were recorded. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination was used as the primary bedside mycological test. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square/Fisher exact tests and continuous variables using independent-samples t-test. Logistic regression was explored for selected risk factors. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The cohort had a mean age of 34.1 ± 12.0 years and included 44 (58.7%) males. Tinea corporis/cruris was the commonest clinical pattern (34.7%), followed by tinea cruris (25.3%) and tinea corporis (18.7%). KOH positivity was done in 61 (81.3%) patients. Recurrence was reported in 37 (49.3%) and prior topical corticosteroid-containing combination use in 31 (41.3%). Excessive sweating, occlusive clothing, household contact and prior corticosteroid-containing topical therapy were frequent risk factors. Recurrent disease was significantly associated with prior topical corticosteroid use (OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.25–7.75; p=0.014) and household contact (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.10–6.92; p=0.031). Conclusion: In this study, dermatophytosis predominantly affected young and middle-aged adults, with tinea corporis/cruris and tinea cruris being frequent presentations. Recurrent disease was associated with modifiable exposure and treatment-related factors. Accurate diagnosis, confirmation by KOH where appropriate, avoidance of unsupervised corticosteroid-containing preparations and attention to household/environmental factors are important in management.