CLINICALAND MYCOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ONYCHOMYCOSIS IN A HILLY STATE OF NORTH - EAST INDIA .

Abstract

Background: Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of nger nails and toe nails. It is a non life threatening condition and requires long-term treatment. Mostly patients seek medical care for cosmetic purpose unless it gets secondarily infected and produce pain. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of various causative agents of onychomycosis and to study the clinical and mycological patterns of onychomycosis . Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study which was carried over a period of one year , from December 2019 to November 2020 . A total of 47 patients were included in the study , who visited Dermatology OPD of SMIMS , Sikkim, India. After clinical evaluation , nail samples were subjected for KOH mount and culture. Results:This study included 47 patients of clinically diagnosed onychomycosis , 30 males and 17 males . In the present study maximum number of patients belonged to the age group 30-40 years with 28 patients . Most of the study subjects , 22 were agricultural worker . We found that trauma to the nails was the commonest predisposing factor 17. Out of 47 patients 33 patients were KOH positive and 21 patients were culture positive. Most common type of onychomycosis was Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis with 2 cases . Most common species identied in our study was T.rubram with 5 patients , followed by T. mentagrophytes with 3 patients. Conclusion: Along dermatophytes , NDM and yeasts were also common aetiological agents of onychomycosis. Since onychomycosis can cause physical , psychological and occupational problems, the clinico-epidemiological data can be helpful in development of preventive and diagnostic strategies.