Clinico-Epidemiological Profile and Mycological Characterization of Superficial Dermatophytosis at the Tertiary Care Center of North India

Background: Dermatophytes are ubiquitous fungi, prevalent worldwide. The tropical and subtropical climate favors this fungal infection, affecting all age groups. The incidence of infection depends on various host factors and fungal agent factors. Accurate clinical and laboratory diagnosis is essential to understand the ongoing trend in dermatophytosis. The present study was conducted to understand the clinico-epidemiological profile and mycological characterization of the fungus among cases of superficial dermatophytosis reporting to a tertiary care center in Southern Haryana.Methods: A total of 88 skin, 12 hair, and 20 nail samples were collected from 120 cases of superficial dermatophytosis. The KOH wet mount and culture on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA) were done. The species were identified based on morphological characterization of growth on SDA and microscopic examination of Lactophenol Cotton Blue wet mount. Result: Among 120 cases, the male: female ratio was 7:3, with the most common affected age group of 21-30 years (21.7%). The farmers, students, and housewives had a higher infection rate. Itching (85.7%), dryness (82.3%), scaling (63.8%), and erythema (45.3%) were frequently reported symptoms. Tinea corporis and T.cruris were the predominant clinical entities. The rate of KOH and culture positivity was 65% and 54.16%. In culture, the highest isolates belong to *Trichophyton rubrum* and *Trichophyton mentagrophytes*.Conclusion: Direct microscopy and culture together in routine practice improve the diagnosis. Culture is essential to understand the etiology of dermatophyte in the region with respect to national trends.