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Some epidemiological aspects of dermatophyte infections in Southwest Iran.

Distribution and prevalence of various species of dermatophytes are not the same in different areas of the world. The aim of the present study was epidemiologic evaluation of dermatophytic infections in our area. A retrospective epidemiologic study was carried out and all patients with dermatophyte positive smears identified at the Referral Center of Southwest Iran located in the city of Ahvaz between March 2005 and March 2007 were investigated. Body was divided into nine areas and information on age, sex, dermatophyte species and clinical presentation were recorded. The study included 428 patients, 233 (54.43%) men and 195 (45.56%) women, most of them aged 20-29 (29.8%). Regarding the body area involved, the groin, trunk and hands were the most prevalent areas. Tinea cruris and tinea corporis were the most common clinical presentation in both men and women. Epidermophyton floccosum was the most frequently isolated dermatophyte (39.25%), followed by Trichophyton verrucosum (27.33%) and Trichophyton rubrum (8.41%). Epidemiologic characteristics of dermatophytic infections in southwest Iran in comparison with other areas of the world and even Iran have changed significantly. As many factors such as area, weather conditions, occupation, and environmental factors are implicated in dermatophytic infections, it seems that dermatophytic infections change epidemiologically from time to time even in different areas of a country such as Iran. Accordingly, we think that the reason for this phenomenon in our area may change related to seeking healthy behaviors and hygiene in southwest Iran. We propose to do additional and larger epidemiologic studies regarding these variables.