Prevalence of dermatophytosis in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria : any change in pattern?

A total of 344 specimens of skin, hair and nail clippings, were examined for the presence of dermatophytes during the period May 2003 – April 2004 at the UNTH. Out of these, 65 were found positive for dermatophytes. T. soudanense was the most frequently isolated species representing 70.8% of isolates, followed by T. mentagrophytes 12.3%, Adults were more predominantly infected than children, 89.2% and 10.8% respectively. T. soudanense was the only dermatophyte that was recovered from all sites apart from the buttocks. Compared to an earlier study in 1975, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of T. capitis (PL0.05) and this explains the decrease in the prevalence of M. andounii , as this dermatophyte is the most common cause of T. capitis in Enugu, Nigeria. An improvement of Personal hygiene, better living conditions and improved socio economic conditions has led to a decrease of T. Capitis , as well as general awareness by the populace. Keywords : dermatophytes, superticial mycoses, antropophilic Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 8(2) 2005: 83-85