High Frequency of Self-Diagnosis and Self-Treatment in a Nationally Representative Survey about Superficial Fungal Infections in Adults-United States, 2022.

Abstract

Data about the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and public knowledge of superficial fungal infections in the United States are scarce. These infections are a growing concern given the emergence of antifungal drug resistance. We analyzed data from a national survey of nearly 6000 U.S. adults. Overall, 114 (2.7%) participants reported having ringworm and 415 (10.0%) reported a fungal nail infection in the past 12 months; 61.4% of participants with any superficial fungal infection were self-diagnosed. Most patients (55.5%) used over-the-counter antifungals. The common nature of superficial fungal infections and the high rates of self-diagnosis and treatment indicate that community education about these infections should be considered a public health priority.