Statistical study of dermatomycosis - observations in Sendai National Hospital over a 30 year period]

A statistical 30-year study of dermatomycosis in Sendai National Hospital (1968-1997) revealed many changes in the prevalent diseases: Tinea pedis and tinea unguium constantly increased during this period, and the ratio of the former associated with nail infection finally reached 30% of all tinea pedis patients. On the contrary, tinea corporis and cruris showed a remarkable decreasing tendency. Patient age distribution of each disease also showed distinctive changes, generally increasing in the older generation and decreasing in the younger. The number of patients with tinea pedis and unguium gradually increased among the middle and older generations, with the peak of the age-distribution curve shifting upward year after year. On the other hand, cases of tinea cruris among the younger generation were few in the latest years, and middle-age patients remained at a low number. In the first stage of this study the kinds of atiologic dermatophytes consisted of multiple species, but after middle period the isolation of Epidermaphyton floccosum decreased. Microsporum canis appeared first in 1976 but in the recent several years has completely disappeared. In the last few years of the period studied Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were the only isolates found from among all types of dermatophytoses. Infantile candidiasis remarkably increased in 1970-1975 but thereafter decreased rapidlly. Candidial intertrigo also increased in the same period but did not decrease as much thereafter and continued at the same intermediate level. The number of other types of candidiases were not greatly changed throughout the 30-year period. Malassezia infection also showed no remarkable changes, and only 20 cases of sporothrichosis were found. One case of the deep seated form of cutaneous aspergillosis was found, and this was also true of chromomycosis caused by Fonceaea pedrosoi.