Abstract
Background Foot mycoses are a frequent disease that represents a public health problem worldwide. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of foot mycoses among Tunisian patients, in order to determine the fungal etiological agents and to identify possible risk factors. Patients and Methods A prospective study of three hundred and ninety-two patients was undertaken during one year (2013-2014). All subjects were asked to collect demographic data related to the risk factors of foot mycoses. A complete mycological diagnosis was carried out on all patients. Results A total of 485 samples were collected; tinea pedis and tinea unguium were confirmed in 88.2% of cases. Dermatophytes were isolated in 70.5% and the most frequent pathogen was Trichophyton rubrum (98.1%), followed by yeasts (17.7%) commonly Candida parapsilosis. Non-dermatophyte molds (NDMs) were observed in 8.02% cases and Fusarium sp. was the frequent genus (29.1%). The main predisposing factors of fungal foot infections were practicing ritual washing (56.6%) and frequentation of communal showers (50.5%). Conclusion This is a recent survey of foot mycoses in Tunisia. Epidemiological studies can be useful to eradicate these infections and to provide further measures of hygiene and education.
Highlights
Fungal infections of the feet including tinea pedis and tinea unguium are very common in the general population [1]
Tinea unguium is classified into four clinical types depending on the mode of penetration of the fungus in the nail plate: distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO); proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO); white superficial onychomycosis (WSO); and total dystrophic onychomycosis (TDO) [4]
The diagnosis of foot mycosis was confirmed through a mycological diagnosis in 346 (88.26%) cases; the frequency was higher in females (67.05%) compared with males (32.94%) but this prevalence according to the sex was not statistically significant (p = 0.217) (Table 1)
Summary
Fungal infections of the feet including tinea pedis and tinea unguium are very common in the general population [1]. Generally known as athlete’s foot, is divided into three clinical forms such as interdigital, plantar (moccasin foot), and vesiculobullous [2]. Foot mycoses are a frequent disease that represents a public health problem worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of foot mycoses among Tunisian patients, in order to determine the fungal etiological agents and to identify possible risk factors. All subjects were asked to collect demographic data related to the risk factors of foot mycoses. A total of 485 samples were collected; tinea pedis and tinea unguium were confirmed in 88.2% of cases. The main predisposing factors of fungal foot infections were practicing ritual washing (56.6%) and frequentation of communal showers (50.5%). Epidemiological studies can be useful to eradicate these infections and to provide further measures of hygiene and education
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
